On 50th Anniv. of Equal Pay Act, Planned Parenthood VA Says Choice for Women Is Clear in Gov. Race

From Planned Parenthood Virginia:

“Virginia deserves a governor who understands that health care and fair pay are not just matters of equality and fairness, but are family and economic issues as well.” — Cianti Stewart-Reid

RICHMOND, VA — On the 50^th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act being signed into law, Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC released the following statement highlighting the clear choice between Virginia gubernatorial candidates when it comes to women’s health and economic security. Last week, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe rolled out a proposal for tougher sanctions on gender-based wage discrimination. 

While Virginia has made progress toward fair pay there is still work to do. In Virginia, women still make just 78 cents to every dollar a man makes, resulting in a wage gap of over $14 billion in potential earnings. That is why it is critical that Virginia continues to elect leaders who will fight for equal pay and ending discrimination in the workplace.

Statement from Cianti Stewart-Reid, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC:

“Virginia deserves a governor who understands that health care and fair pay are not just matters of equality and fairness, but are family and economic issues as well. Terry McAuliffe is clearly that candidate. He has announced a plan that would strengthen current workforce discrimination laws and as governor, he will work to ensure that women are treated fairly on the job.

“By contrast, Ken Cuccinelli is out-of-touch with the critical health and economic concerns of Virginia women. He refuses to say whether or not he agrees with Terry McAuliffe’s equal pay proposal and he was only one of three state attorneys general who opposed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Cuccinelli has fought against expanding women’s access to affordable birth control under the Affordable Care Act — a key economic concern for women — and threatened the entire state budget over an amendment to cut access to Planned Parenthood’s preventive health services.

“Ken Cuccinelli’s running mate E.W. Jackson has called equal pay efforts ‘subtle sexism’ that adds ‘nothing to the dignity and equality of women’ – and Cuccinelli has not disagreed. It is astonishing how out-of-touch Ken Cuccinelli and his running mates are with the needs of Virginia women and families, consistently putting their extreme ideologies ahead of women’s rights in the commonwealth.

“Virginia needs leaders who will fight to protect and advance women’s rights — not bring us backwards. That is why we are proud to stand with Terry McAuliffe.”

Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Votes and Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC have been leading the charge to educate Virginia voters about what’s at stake for women’s health and economic security in advance of the November election. The campaign is called “Keep Ken Out” and you can learn more here: www.keepkenout.org.

You can watch a Keep Ken Out campaign ad here.

Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC endorsed Terry McAuliffe for Governor on May 15, 2013.

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Paid for by Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC.
Authorized by Terry McAuliffe candidate for Governor.