Sunday, January 11, 2009

House passes fair pay legislation

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democrats flexed their new political muscles Friday as the House of Representatives passed two pay-equity bills high on the agenda of the Democratic leadership.

The Paycheck Fairness Act, passed by a vote of 256-163, requires employers to provide a legitimate reason for paying different salaries to men and women performing the same job.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which passed 247-171, overturns a 2007 Supreme Court decision, which made it harder to sue for pay discrimination.