Fresh off their November election victories, which enjoyed majority support from women for the first time in decades, Republicans in the U.S. Senate promptly failed in their first opportunity to show they’re serious about issues important to female Americans, writes Amy Siskind, president and co-founder of The New Agenda.

 

For the first time since 1982, exit polling showed women voters favored the GOP in the 2010 election. “What does the GOP do with this historic opportunity? Blow it!” according to Siskind.

 

This week, the Senate refused to debate the Paycheck Fairness Act, which aims to lessen the disparity between men’s and women’s salaries. Although the vote was 58 in favor and 41 against, the motion needed 60 votes to proceed. Not a single Republican voted to hear the bill—a stupid move on the GOP’s part, Siskind argues.

 

“Wise up there GOP—if you have any hopes of taking the White House in 2012, you’ll need women voters. But after shooting down the Paycheck Fairness Act today and perpetuating a boys’ club in Congress, you ain’t showing us much.”

 

Economic security was the No. 1 issue for women in the recent election, making the failure to support the legislation all the more frustrating, Siskind says.

 

She singles out key female political figures in Washington for not standing up for the bill, specifically Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

How the GOP Blew It on the Paycheck Fairness Act (by Amy Siskind, Daily Caller)