State Rep. Walker Votes to Expand Equal Pay Act

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Reiterating his focus on strengthening equal pay laws, state Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, voted Wednesday in favor of a plan that would prohibit employers from asking applicants about their previous wage history, ending a practice that can lock women into a lifetime of lower pay.

“Pay equity is at the core of fairness for all workers,” Walker said. “Someone’s salary history can often disqualify them from future employment because employers sometimes screen new hires based on their previous pay, or will pay them at a lower wage after getting a job. This reality is especially true for women who are often trapped in a cycle of pay inequity.

“As a former business owner, I know that paying people a solid and equal wage is the right thing to do if you want to be successful,” Walker continued. “It’s a shame that we still have not achieved pay equity for the women in our workforce. Expanding the Equal Pay Act is an important step for women and all our workers.”

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