Some Democrats at the Ohio Statehouse have introduced a bill that would require women and men earn equal salaries for equal work. Democratic State Representative Sandra Williams says it’s long overdue when you consider women are the heads of households in many Ohio families.
"Women are the breadwinners in most of these families," Williams said. "Women are doing the things that some of the men are not willing to do -- taking care of the family, providing food, making sure their children have clothing. Cost-of-living rates have gone up over and over, over the years. And yet the pay for females has not gone up. As you all know, women make about 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. And when it comes to African Americans, they make about 64 cents to every dollar that a man makes."
The Democrats say their legislation would bring Ohio in line with the federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. They say it would close state loopholes that allow employers to engage in discriminatory and unfair gender-based pay practices.