2
SOTU: TIME TO ACT!
President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday included an overdue challenge to Congress to improve opportunities for women. In his speech, the President highlighted the persistent inequalities facing women, from wage disparities to the lack of family medical leave. The President rightfully focused on putting women at the forefront as the pillars of the economy and championed new investments in social justice. Now, it’s time for Congress to recognize that “when women succeed, America succeeds.”
Gender equality in the workplace is a key solution to strengthening our nation’s economy. Providing American women with equal pay for equal work, respecting their jobs both on the home-front and in the storefront, and giving them the peace of mind to know that they can care for a sick family member while way from work are the first steps to a sustainable economy and a better tomorrow.
Sabrina Jenkins, an Air Force veteran and single mother in attendance during the speech exemplified women who are juggling life –raising children and caring for aging parents while working and achieving new educational accomplishments –but still struggling to make a decent living. For women like Sabrina, these issues are personal and critically important.
Gender equality is not about redefining a definition. It is about giving women the chance to have a seat at the table when it comes to decisions that impact their ability to care for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Women make up half of the U.S. workforce, and in many instances are the “breadwinners” of their family. By making the workplace just a litter easier and just a little fairer, we have the ability to empower women as never before. It’s time for Congress to act.
Ethics Reform Bill: The Virginia Senate this afternoon passed SB649 39-1, the omnibus "ethics reform" legislation that doesn't include any real reform. Prior to passage, the members rejected an amendment from Senator Adam Ebbin to reign in expensive recreational trips with no educational value paid for by special interests. The bill maintains an absurd distinction between tangible and intangible gifts while only prohibiting "tangible" gifts over $250 from registered lobbyists.
"The members of the Senate should be embarrassed that after the last year's ethics scandals, the best they can do is absolutely nothing," said ProgressVA executive director Anna Scholl. "Not only can legislators continue to accept unlimited gifts from almost any source, but they continue to solicit those gifts. Private citizens aren't routinely offered free trips to France or Sea World or Redskins games and that shouldn't be a perk of public office either."
In a report last month, ProgressVA Education Fund evaluated all 2012 gifts under the "restrictions" in the omnibus bill and found virtually no gifts would be prohibited under this proposal. Only gifts from registered lobbyists are prohibited under this proposal, even though no lobbyists provided gifts in 2012. Under the proposal, none of the gifts from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams to Governor Bob McDonnell would be banned.