Madam Secretary

Hillary’s last legislative victory?

Clinton may get a last-minute legislative hurrah on her way out of the Senate. Two controversial bills on equal pay for women — the Ledbetter Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, the latter of which is sponsored by Hillary — have been reintroduced and are expected to easily pass in the House today. The Ledbetter ...

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589691_090109_ClintonPay2.jpg

Clinton may get a last-minute legislative hurrah on her way out of the Senate. Two controversial bills on equal pay for women -- the Ledbetter Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, the latter of which is sponsored by Hillary -- have been reintroduced and are expected to easily pass in the House today. The Ledbetter bill, which reverses a Supreme Court decision, is designed to allow employees who learn of pay disparities after the fact a longer window to file formal complaints. The Paycheck Fairness bill allows employees who face salary discrimination the ability to file class-action suits and increases penalties for companies with gender pay gaps.

Clinton may get a last-minute legislative hurrah on her way out of the Senate. Two controversial bills on equal pay for women — the Ledbetter Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, the latter of which is sponsored by Hillary — have been reintroduced and are expected to easily pass in the House today. The Ledbetter bill, which reverses a Supreme Court decision, is designed to allow employees who learn of pay disparities after the fact a longer window to file formal complaints. The Paycheck Fairness bill allows employees who face salary discrimination the ability to file class-action suits and increases penalties for companies with gender pay gaps.

Both bills aren’t popular with the business community and probably face a tougher time in the Senate. But they could be a satisfying capstone to Hillary’s Senate career if they find their way into the lawbooks.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images News

Carolyn O'Hara is a senior editor at Foreign Policy.
Read More On Economics | U.S. Congress | Women’s Rights

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