Hurley Overrides Governor’s Veto of Equal Pay for Women

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To reduce the wage gap between men and women in Illinois, state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, joined a bipartisan effort to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of an equal pay bill.

“Women make up half of the workforce in the United States, but the average working woman earns only 77 percent of what a man makes,” Hurley said. “It is unacceptable that full-time, equally qualified, working women make far less than their male counterparts. That is why both Democrats and Republicans worked together to override Governor Rauner’s veto of equal pay.”

Hurley voted to override House Bill 2462, which requires employers to pay women the same as equally qualified men performing the same job. Hurley’s legislation prevents employers from asking job seekers about their previous wage earnings, a practice that has historically locked women into lower pay categories. Her measure also bars companies from requiring employees to sign contracts that would prevent them from discussing their salary. Hurley stands committed to fight for equal pay for women who have historically faced discrimination in the workplace.

“When women make substantially less than a man, they are put at a financial disadvantage,” Hurley said. “These women have worked hard and put time and energy into a career in order to better their futures. They deserve to be compensated fairly for their work.”