It's high time we bridged the gender gap on wages

On April 7, the Idaho Legislature unanimously passed our resolution recognizing the pay inequities between men and women doing the same work and declaring April 28 as Equal Pay Day. Why April 28? That is the day this year that average women in Idaho will finally catch up to the average men's 2008 earning.

In other words, Idaho women must work 16 months to earn as much as men do in a year. Pay for women in Idaho has only improved 5 percent since 1992, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Vital Statistics. In only three other states do women face a greater pay gap than they do in Idaho.

The wage gap becomes particularly insidious as women age. Women are far more likely to enter retirement in poverty than men, because women have insufficient incomes to save for retirement, maximize pension and Social Security benefits, and provide for their longer life spans. For retired women, the median income is $15,615, about half that of their male counterparts.

The difference is even greater for women of color. Keep in mind, these women are doing the same work as men. If full pay parity was achieved, it would cut our rate of poverty in half and many families would be able to get off Medicaid and other forms of assistance.

Many legislators shared their personal stories supporting this bill, and it was widely supported by many organizations. This is not a mandate, nor is it anti-business. Rather, it raises awareness and signals that Idaho recognizes equal pay issues and is not willing to tolerate unfair pay scales.

HCR 23 assures women and men that they have not only an equal playing field, but an equal paying field. It is especially good that we've taken action in the wake of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which will ensure that American workers are treated fairly under the law by correcting wage disparities.

Idaho has a long way to go to be certain that women achieve pay equity, but the awareness fostered by Equal Pay Day is a great start. Let's start working together as Idahoans to raise this issue and bring fairness to our great state.

Rep. Anne Pasley-Stuart and Sen. Les Bock, co-sponsors of the Equal Pay Day resolution, are Democrats who represent Boise in the Idaho Legislature.