[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      LILLY LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we have heard a lot of debate over the 
past few days on the question of fairness. Every Member of this body 
supports equal pay for equal work. I could not find anybody who does 
not support that.
  But this so-called Ledbetter bill is a trial lawyers' bailout. It is 
not about fair pay.
  Pay discrimination has been illegal since 1963. Let me say that 
again. Since 1963. This bill is about effectively eliminating the 
statute of limitations on pay discrimination. It unfairly targets 
business owners who, in many cases, will no longer have the evidence 
they will need to mount a just defense.
  As we all know, job creators have enough to worry about these days. 
We should not add the threat of never-ending lawsuits. Republicans have 
a better idea to ensure fairness in the workplace. Senator Hutchison 
has crafted a commonsense proposal that says the clock should not run 
out on someone who has been discriminated against until he or she 
discovers the alleged discrimination. That is fair to both sides.
  If we are going to grow our economy, we need to focus on legislation 
that will create jobs, not put undue hardships on job creators. So we 
will have an opportunity to vote on the Hutchison amendment, which is 
absolutely fair to anyone who has been discriminated against in the 
workplace but also does not create a plaintiffs' lawyer bailout, which 
is what is at stake if we pass this bill without the Hutchison 
amendment.
  I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, we are now in the 1 hour that has been 
determined to be equally divided to conclude the debate on the 
Hutchison amendment to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. It is the 
intention for us to be able to conclude the bill today, and we want to 
thank our colleagues for their cooperation in offering amendments, and 
we are willing to debate them.
  We have heard much debate already--Mr. President, in our enthusiasm 
to move ahead, I neglected to say that we yield back our time in 
morning business.

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