With a shortened legislative session this year, State representatives were under more pressure than ever to focus on “priority” legislation. After cutting 2 weeks from session, “Sine die” or the last day of the legislative session was May 11th… so it’s safe to safe at this point if it hasn’t been done yet it won’t be getting done (at least not this year).One things for certain the Republican led House hasn’t considered discrimination (or anti-discrimination for that matter) a priority issue.
We’ll take a look at one of the bills that glaringly deserved legislative attention this year yet is residing in committee- where most good legislation goes to die: ultimately sending the message that in South Carolina DISCRIMINATION IS A OKAY WITH US! But- what can we expect with a majority more concerned with whether they get re-elected than representing the needs of South Carolinian’s but I digress…
The rationale for fast tracking some bills like this year’s Open Carry and allowing others to gather dust never even making it to committee agenda evades us… But, nevertheless it persist.
When the General Assembly passed legislation last year to shorten the legislative session, members did so with the purpose of saving taxpayers money. The unforeseen, though fairly obvious, result is the limited days for lawmakers to work, and thus both chambers were expected to prioritize issues.
One of the losers in prioritization…South Carolina Women.
“SOUTH CAROLINA EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK ACT”
H. 3599 sponsored by Representatives Cobb-Hunter, King, Henegan, Whipper and Brown and the companion bill in the Senate S.0257 sponsored by former Representative and newcomer to Senate Mia McLeod seeks that we pay women a salary equivalent to male counterparts that hold the same position.
If there’s anything worth fast tracking it should be the bill that says “hey stop paying women less than men for the same job”, both bills were filed in January of this year and both are currently in committee.
There hasn’t been much done to close the gender pay gap in South Carolina, but it’s not for lack of trying. Democrat Leon Stavrinakis prefiled the “State Employee Equal Pay for Equal Work Act” H.3253 three years ago cosponsored by Representatives McKnight and McLeod that was laid to rest in committee never to be heard from again.
So we can take our time on addressing discrimination? But can pass the (tragedy waiting to happen) Open Carry bill in less than a month. Yep, you read that correctly. Open Carry was filed on March 7th and was on its way to Senate by April 7th. I guess when it’s about guns S.C. government isn’t so bureaucratic.
But with women being barely represented in both chambers it’s not surprising that this legislation hasn’t moved. South Carolina ranks 43rd out of the 50 states for its proportion of women who are state representatives and DEAD LAST for its proportion of women who are state senators.
Hopefully the bills will be taken up when legislators return, after all South Carolina is one of only four states in the ENTIRE COUNTRY with no equal pay law on the books.