Here’s some video and a press release (see below) from the excellent LuAnn Bennett for Congress event a bit earlier today in McLean with Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a key supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act, on women’s economic empowerment (and how Barbara Comstock has completely failed to deliver on this crucial issue).
First, LuAnn Bennett explains that she understands, from her own personal experience, the importance of equal pay for women.
This is an issue that particularly here in the 10th district, we need to be concerned with. We have the highest pay gap in the 10th district of all 11 congressional districts here in Virginia. We need to figure out why that is, and we won’t figure it out as long as we’re represented by our current Congresswoman. She doesn’t believe that equal pay is an issue,” has called it a ‘left-wing agenda item.'” Comstock has a “very weak record on protections for women’s health, she wants to overturn Roe v Wade, she won’t support a woman’s constitutional right to make her own choices, equal pay…she’s voted twice against the Paycheck Fairness Act…We need to pass the Family and Medical Leave Act, that would enable women to be full participants in our economy by taking some of that burden of being constantly torn – which I can remember so well when I had three boys in school and was trying to run a business, and you feel like you’re never doing what you need to do…
In the next video, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) talks about equal pay for equal work, says it “seems like a no brainer.” DeLauro praises LuAnn Bennett and explains in detail both the problem of lower pay for women doing the same work as men and how to fix that. She notes that male and female members of Congress are paid the same, because they do the same job. She argues that, far from being a “fringe” issue, this is core to what matters to American families – and “not just for women.” “I was there when Barack Obama signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act…and we’re doing be there…I’m going to be there and LuAnn’s going to be there when Hillary Clinton signs the Paycheck Fairness Act.” DeLauro noted that Barbara Comstock said “Lily Ledbetter and other women who advocate for equal pay have a left-wing agenda and they are partisan – a left-wing agenda to be able to take care of your family!” Comstock also said that “you’re going to make the same if you’re going to do as good, as if women are not doing as good in the workplace today; it really is incredible…undervaluing the work that women do in our society today.” And as if all that weren’t bad enough, Comstock “has voted to defund Planned Parenthood, she is for overturning Roe.” DeLauro said the Washington Post “was looking for a Republican to support,” but “where was [Comstock] at the outset [of Trump’s campaign] demeaning women…He has spewed more hate in this political campaign than I ever seen…If [Comstock] were really opposed to Donald Trump, she would have been out there” against him a long time ago. In stark contrast, LuAnn Bennett “has been speaking out” on women’s pay equality “day in and day out.” Now, we all need to do everything over the next two weeks to elect LuAnn Bennett and to take back a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rep. DeLauro elaborates on the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the importance of enacting her own legislation to ensure equal pay for women doing the same jobs as men.
Rep. DeLauro agrees with Paul Krugman that Republicans (like Barbara Comstock) who supported Trump when he was winning, but now have ditched him for political experience, have showed no courage, no understanding of her constituents and need to go. DeLauro adds that Comstock has been “nothing but obstructionist,” along with the entire Republican-controlled Congress. They’ve also been “so cynical and manipulative.”
On another important topic, in the next video LuAnn Bennett talks about her own work to protect the environment and to combat climate change, criticizing Barbara Comstock for denying the problem even exists.
In the final video, LuAnn Bennett thanks Delegates Kathleen Murphy and Eileen Filler-Corn for the work they’re doing on a variety of issues, including gun safety.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro Headlines Bennett Female Economic Empowerment Meet & Greet
Key Supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act to Discuss Importance of Equal Pay for Equal Work
McLean – Tomorrow, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) will join Democratic challenger and small business owner LuAnn Bennett for a meet and greet to discuss women’s economic empowerment, the importance of family and medical leave and the importance of legislating equal pay for equal work.
Rep. DeLauro is the chief supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act, a measure that will bring transparency to wages to help ensure that women and men receive equal pay for equal work. A member of the influential House Appropriations and Budget committees, Rep. DeLauro has been described as a “hero for working families” for her work on labor and health issues in Congress. She has led the fight for affordable, quality health care, and sponsored legislation that would close the wage gap between men and women and provide paid sick leave to employees.
LuAnn Bennett has placed creating a more balanced economy, including economic empowerment through equal pay for equal work, at the center of her campaign for Congress. Women in the U.S. on average earn 80 cents for every dollar paid to a man; in the 10th district, women are paid just 67.7% of what men are paid – the largest pay gap among Virginia’s eleven congressional districts – according to the American Association of University Women (AAUW). LuAnn will fight for the Paycheck Fairness Act, for paid family and medical leave and expanded educational and economic opportunities for women, minorities and underserved communities.
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