Lilly Ledbetter Act: Frivolous Law?

From the Washington Post:

The bill, dubbed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, was introduced after a Supreme Court ruling in 2007 rejected a $360,000 award in back pay to Lilly Ledbetter, an Alabama woman who worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber. Ledbetter had discovered a large gap between her salary and that of her male colleagues, stretching back years.

The discrepancy cost her lost wages and also lowered her retirement earnings because her Social Security and 401(k) contributions were based on her salary. But the court ruled that Ledbetter's case was not allowed under the 1964 Civil Rights Act because the statute of limitations on claims was 180 days after the alleged discrimination took place.

Now for the "Frivolous" piece to this legislation, from the opposition (also in the Post piece), you know those 36 votes against fair and equal pay:

The bill would greatly ease the statute-of-limitations requirements -- too much so, said Republican opponents, who warned that civil courts would be clogged with frivolous lawsuits.

The funny thing about their opposition is that I don't think they realize that they have just told all women who have suffered with lower pay that suing over the issue is frivolous.

FRIVOLOUS?!

I don't think I need Republicans or any men telling me what is or isn't FRIVOLOUS. I'm not a child. I'm not a little girl who can't tell the difference between wanting and needing and what is fair or what is just.

So, to the opposition party, Please, Take YOUR FRIVOLOUS Attitude and Shove it up...wait, no, wait, I'm not one of those people who swear and curse and slam their idiotic opponents up against walls for their stupidity, instead, let me just say, WHATEVER, let's celebrate what has just happened. Let's get back to the positive.

From a statement form Debra Ness and the National Partnership for Women and Families:

The Senate took an enormous step forward to restore fair pay protections by passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act this evening.

...

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is a modest and targeted response to a harmful and unjust U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made it just about impossible for victims of pay discrimination to seek justice in the courts, no matter how severe the discrimination they face. Today, the Senate stood with the American people and committed to ending workplace discrimination.

Well said. It could have gone further, but this is a good first step to turning back 8 years of hell and degradation. It's measured and opens just enough of the statute to ensure that women who find out that they have been wronged get justice. Something that is anything but frivolous.

Way to go Senate. Can't wait to see the picture of Lilly and President Obama together as he signs that act into LAW!