Ross Introduces Fair Pay Plan to Close Pay Gap in Arkansas

Press Release

Surrounded by members of Women for Ross, Democratic nominee for governor Mike Ross today introduced a plan he said would better enforce the state's equal pay laws and would help close the pay gap between men and women in Arkansas. Also joined by Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe who endorsed his campaign today and his wife and daughter, Ross outlined a series of policy objectives he called his "Fair Pay and Equal Opportunity Plan" to address pay inequity in Arkansas. Ross, formerly of Prescott who now resides in Little Rock, is a former small business owner, state senator and U.S. Congressman.

"Women in Arkansas are paid $.77 for every dollar men earn, and we are ranked 35th in the U.S. in terms of gender pay equity. That's unacceptable because I want my daughter to have the same opportunities to succeed as my son, and I want the same for every Arkansan across this state," said Ross. "When women earn equal pay for equal work, all Arkansans do better. Our communities, big and small, thrive when our people thrive -- all our people. Those are the values I learned at the kitchen table with my mom and dad growing up in small town Arkansas, and those are the values that will guide me as governor."

Ross said his "Fair Pay and Equal Opportunity Plan" is a list of key objectives that will strengthen the state's equal pay laws and will guide his work as governor to ensure equal pay for equal work. His plan will protect employees against retaliatory actions for discussing wages with colleagues or for raising concerns about gender-based wage discrimination in the workplace. He said he will also pursue public/private partnerships that help train women and girls in Arkansas on pay negotiations and how to better recognize pay disparities in the workplace. He will also help employers with their equal pay practices, and will recognize those who excel in equal pay practices in Arkansas. Finally, he says he will publish an annual report about pay inequity in the workplace to measure Arkansas's progress and recommend ways to accelerate that progress.

"These are simple and straightforward, yet powerful steps that can be taken to help guarantee equal pay for equal work in Arkansas," said Ross. "My plan will help ensure fair pay and equal opportunity to succeed in the workplace for both men and women in Arkansas. I believe it is past time for Arkansas to become more than just the Land of Opportunity -- we must be the Land of Equal Opportunity."

Ross said that his policy proposals so far throughout the campaign will also help ensure equal opportunity for all Arkansans, but particularly women in Arkansas.

"My plans to strengthen education, particularly pre-k, along with my plans to cut taxes, reduce domestic violence, increase support for female veterans and now ensure fair pay will help more women have an opportunity to succeed," said Ross. "I've also consistently supported raising the state's minimum wage, which would benefit more than 97,400 women in Arkansas, and have consistently supported protecting the state's bipartisan private option, which helps thousands of women obtain life-saving health insurance. In fact, nearly 60 percent of those helped by the Private Option are women."

Ross also said he was proud to receive the endorsement from Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe, who Ross called a "tireless champion" for Arkansas. Ross added that he would build on the progress Governor Mike Beebe and First Lady Ginger Beebe have made for working families in Arkansas.

"Mrs. Beebe has been a tireless champion for women and children in Arkansas, and her love for Arkansas is inspiring. I am truly honored to have her support," said Ross. "There is a clear choice for governor in this election. We can roll back the progress we've made in recent years, or we can build on the leadership of Mike and Ginger Beebe in how we grow the middle class and build a better and brighter future for all Arkansans -- men and women. I will build on their progress and work day and night to make Arkansas an even better place to call home so that every child raised here will have an equal opportunity to achieve his or her dreams."

You can read more about Mike Ross' Fair Pay and Equal Opportunity Plan at MikeRoss.com.

Ross has received the endorsement of 65 of the state's 75 county sheriffs, 56 of the 75 county judges, Governor Mike Beebe, President Bill Clinton, General Wesley Clark, the Arkansas Professional Fire Fighters Association, and the Arkansas Education Association, an organization that represents Arkansas's educators and education support professionals.

Source