Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) on Tuesday inquired how the Paycheck Fairness Act makes sure that men are not paid less than women, according to the Huffington Post.
“Take me through exactly what would have to happen, with a specific example of a man and woman, where a man is being paid less than the woman,” Alexander said to attorney Camille Olson during a Senate hearing on the bill. “Because this law is not just about women — it’s about men and women.”
Olson, who was testifying on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said that the bill provides the same protections to men as it does to women.
“An employer would have to show that the woman was being paid more because of a factor other than sex, such as a qualification, advanced degree, or more experience,” she said.
Alexander, who opposed the bill, said that it would result in “more lawsuits,” not higher wages for women, according to the Huffington Post.
He also suggested that Democrats are only pushing the equal pay bill to “recapture some political crown because of the disaster Obamacare’s been.”
The Paycheck Fairness Act would require employers to provide the reasoning behind wage differences between employees who hold the same position, such as education or experience. It would also require the Department of Labor to work with employers to close the wage gap between men and women. The Senate should vote on the bill next week.
