All those reasons and more

Maria Niles — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:32:22 -0600

Are why I'll be voting for Obama! Thanks so much for this post.

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Why working women should support Barack Obama

Terri Freer — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:44:52 -0600

Equal pay for equal work – so simple to say, so difficult to achieve. Frankly, I am glad that we are finally talking about it. Forty-five years after President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, women still make only 77 cents to a man’s dollar. The continued disparity in wages signifies a need for stronger equal pay laws to guarantee women are paid equally and have access to courts when they are not. One presidential candidate voted in favor of equal pay for women and one candidate said that women need more “education and training.” Well Senator McCain, as a business woman from Texas, I do not agree! Most employers want to pay their employees fairly; stop protecting the lawbreakers and distorting the playing field for all of us who are trying to create family friendly, profitable workplaces.

2008 is a critical election for working women. Health coverage for women and families, the future of Social Security, affordable education, access to family and medical leave, caregiving support, and support for women veterans are critical to the economic security of working women and their families. These aren’t just women’s issues – they are family issues. If candidates wants to win with women then they must have a plan to address these issues.

Senator Barack Obama’s strong support of working women and their families is the reason BPW/PAC, the political arm of Business and Professional Women/USA, has endorsed Senator Obama for President of the United States.

The Senator’s commitment to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, increase retirement savings opportunities for women, expand paid sick leave and FMLA, along with his support of workplace flexibility and affordable healthcare make it clear that he is the candidate most supportive of BPW/PAC’s mission to achieve equity for all women in the workplace.

In addition, Senator Obama’s assurance that he will ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women along with his support of reproductive rights, programs to fight violence against women and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment clearly demonstrate that he is committed to ensuring that women’s voices will be heard in his administration.

With so much at stake for women on November 4, working women must cast their ballots for Barack Obama; we cannot afford John McCain.

Terri Freer is chair of Business and Professional Women/PAC. Established in 1979, the nonpartisan Business and Professional Women Political Action Committee (BPW/PAC) helps shape the national agenda on workingwomen’s issues.

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All those reasons and more

Why working women should support Barack Obama