Greg Abbott strongly supports equal pay, and he cares as much as anyone to ensure that we do have the equal pay laws in Texas.
Texas currently has strong state law equal pay provisions forbidding and punishing unlawful discrimination in an employee’s compensation by reason of race, color, disability, sex, national origin, religion or age.
Equal Pay For All Texans Is Already Protected By Both Federal And State Laws
Lily Ledbetter Law:
- The Lily Ledbetter law applies to every corner of the State of Texas.
- That law provides in part that:
[A]n unlawful employment practice occurs, with respect to discrimination in compensation in violation of this title, when a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice is adopted, when an individual becomes subject to a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, or when an individual is affected by application of a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, including each time wages, benefits, or other compensation is paid, resulting in whole or in part from such a decision or other practice.
Texas Constitution:
- The Texas Constitution also protects from wage discrimination: “[e]quality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex…”
Texas Labor Code:
- Texas Labor Code Section 21.051 provides in part that:
An employer commits an unlawful employment practice if because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age the employer:
(1) fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges an individual, or discriminates in any other manner against an individual in connection with compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; or,
(2) limits, segregates, or classifies an employee or applicant for employment in a manner that would deprive or tend to deprive an individual of any employment opportunity or adversely affect in any other manner the status of an employee.
Texas Government Code:
- Texas Government Code Section 659.001 (Equal Work, Equal Pay) provides that:
A woman who performs public service for this state is entitled to be paid the same compensation for her service as is paid to a man who performs the same kind, grade, and quantity of service, and a distinction in compensation may not be made because of sex.
Greg Abbott’s Strong Record Of Supporting Equal Pay:
Texas Monthly’s Erica Grieder: Abbott “Explicitly Supports” Equal Pay. “And Republicans aren’t, as a group, against equal pay. Many of them, including Abbott, explicitly support it.” (Erica Grieder, “The Truth About Equal Pay,” Texas Monthly, 3/25/12)
The Texas Attorney General’s Office Employs About 1,800 More Women Than Men. “The Texas attorney general’s office has more than 4,000 employees, nearly 2,900 of them women.” (Peggy Fikac, “Equal Pay Debate Shifts To Attorney General’s Office,” San Antonio Express-News, 3/19/14)
The Number Of Female Lawyers In The Attorney General’s Office Has Increased By 23 Percent Since Abbott Assumed Office. “Abbott’s office said that since he became attorney general in December 2002, the number of female lawyers in his office has increased by 71, or 23 percent.” (Peggy Fikac, “Equal Pay Debate Shifts To Attorney General’s Office,” San Antonio Express-News, 3/19/14)
There Are 36 More Female Assistant Attorneys General Than There Are Male. “Looking at the 722 assistant attorneys general under Abbott, the average salary for 343 men is $79,464 while the average salary for 379 women is $73,649.” (Peggy Fikac, “Equal Pay Debate Shifts To Attorney General’s Office,” San Antonio Express-News, 3/19/14)