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Abbott Would Not Support State Equal Pay Measure

Shelley Kofler
/
KERA News
Abbott campaigning in Dallas.

Gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott’s campaign says he would not sign the Texas Lilly Ledbetter Act, a measure that would give women more time to successfully make pay discrimination claims in state court.

Democratic opponent Wendy Davis introduced that measure in the Texas Senate last session.  The legislature passed it, but Gov. Rick Perry vetoed it.

Davis has hammered Abbott on the issue for two weeks claiming he doesn’t have women’s best interests at heart.

Abbott previously refused to take a firm position on the proposed law.  His campaign now says he would not support the Texas measure because wage discrimination is already against the law and legal avenues already exist for victims of discrimination.

Davis has said the state law is needed because it is often too expensive and cumbersome for Texas women to pursue discrimination through the federal courts. 

Former KERA staffer Shelley Kofler was news director, managing editor and senior reporter. She is an award-winning reporter and television producer who previously served as the Austin bureau chief and legislative reporter for North Texas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV.