There is Nothing Fair About "Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act"

Tell Your Senators To Vote Against H.R. 11 2009-01-13

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. January 15, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC, January 13, 2009 - Contact your two Senators today to help stop the first of what are expected to be a number of upcoming Senate votes on anti-business legislation that will be quickly considered by the new 111th Congress.

The Senate is scheduled to vote before Friday, January 16, on a combined bill miscast as an "anti-wage discrimination bill" (H.R. 11/S. 181) that will actually discriminate against American businesses.

The House passed last week on largely party-line votes the "Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act" and the "Paycheck Fairness Act." These bills, now combined into a single bill for the Senate to consider, have the potential to inflict upon hospitality businesses new discrimination lawsuits and unlimited punitive and compensatory damages. We appreciated your calls and emails last week to your Representative on these bills-but now it is the Senate's turn to vote on these issues, perhaps as early as Wednesday, January 14.

Pay discrimination based on sex has been illegal since the 1960s. Passage of this new bill may result in more frivolous claims against lodging industry employers. The bill would also allow discrimination cases to be brought years, even decades, after alleged discrimination took place. It would also allow claims based on undefined "benefits, or other compensation." It vastly increases the number of people who could bring claims by allowing an individual who is affected by compensation discrimination to file. And in addition to discriminatory compensation decisions, other practices causing pay discrimination are included as offenses.

Because the bill virtually eliminates any time limitations for claims of employment discrimination, expands the pool of potential claimants, and is vaguely written that would encourage predatory legal claims to exploit its vague language, AH&LA strongly opposes this bill.

AH&LA has made this vote a "Key Vote" and will base their support for a member of Congress on how they cast their vote on this legislation.

Hoteliers can contact their Senators through this link, AH&LA's hotelLOBBY grassroots Website, and urge them to oppose the "Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act" (H.R. 11/S. 181)"

The hotelLOBBY Website is for AH&LA members only. While we welcome the assistance of as many people as possible, individuals must have their own personal AH&LA ID number to log into the hotelLOBBY grassroots site. If you know someone who would like to take action, please have them contact AH&LA Grassroots Manager Renee Brockinton at 202-289-3120 or [email protected].

For more information about these issues, you may contact AH&LA Senior Vice President for Governmental Affairs Shawn McBurney at (202) 289-3123 or [email protected]