U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, who’s shown some unaccountable weakness among women voters in recent polling, made a strong pitch for support today.
He called press to highlight his vote on the pro-side of a procedural vote to advance the Paycheck Fairness Act in the Senate. His opponent, Republican Rep. Tom Cotton, has opposed legislation to insure equal pay for women in the House. Cotton contends the law already protects women from unequal treatment. But proponents of the fairness act says existing law provides too many loopholes — pretexts for discrimination — that allow employers to evade equal pay for equal work for women.
Barbara Pryor, former Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher and Democratic stalwart Lottie Shackelford joined Pryor at today’s press event, a conference call.
“I think it’s important to understand that pay inequality is not just a women’s issue; it’s unfair to families and it’s not good for our economy,” Pryor said on the call. “My opponent, when he’s had a chance to vote for it, he has voted against it, and I think that’s just not right. I think Arkansans deserve better, and it’s just that simple.”
“Women for Pryor.” led by Fisher and Shackelford, has nearly a thousand volunteers knocking on doors, making phone calls, the Pryor campaign said.
His mother said Pryor will listen to the women of Arkansas and work for families. Tom Cotton? He’ll work for the Koch Bros.
Republicans have repeated blocked the legislation in the House or Senate. Today, they allowed the measure to move to debate, but it was a gimmick vote to prevent giving the Democrats a strong election chip before adjournment.