Mah and General Assembly Override Rauner’s Veto, Take Steps toward Equal Pay

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has shown that women in the State of Illinois earn mere fraction of what their male counterparts earn for the same occupations. With Republican Governor Bruce Rauner recently vetoing a measure that would help close the pay gap for women and minorities, state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, and the Illinois House of Representatives passed the measure out of the House on Wednesday, overriding the veto.

“Every day women in our state and in the United States as a whole earn less than men are paid,” said Mah. “We have to move mindsets and ways of thinking to the 21^st Century and show people everywhere that when people work hard, they deserve fair pay regardless of their gender, racial background or any other factors.”

Mah is a co-sponsor of House Bill 2462, a measure that would make it illegal for an employer to screen job applicants based on their previous wages or mandate that an applicant meet a certain income requirement to be considered for employment, while also banning employers from requiring applicants to disclose wage history. This issue has been one that has drawn attention to wage equality nation-wide, with the United States Department of Labor noting that women in Illinois make an average of 79.2 percent of the median income of their male counterparts.

“This commonsense measure takes an important step toward leveling the playing field and makes it so job providers aren’t given a way out of paying hard working people a fair wage,” said Mah. “I am extremely excited that my colleagues in the House chose to stand with me and with women and underpaid groups all across our state.”

The Governor’s veto of House Bill 2462 was overturned on a vote of 80-33 in the House on Wednesday. It is expected to be heard next in the Illinois State Senate.

Mah represents the 2nd Legislative District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of Pilsen, Chinatown, Bridgeport, Brighton Park and Back of the Yards. For more information please contact Rep. Mah’s district office at 872-281-5775 or rep.theresamah@gmail.com.