Blinking in the harsh light of day, desiring only a reprieve from the repetitive assault of his daily routine, Gary Rayno of the Union Leader ground through the following report:
New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan signed a bill Monday that prevents wage discrimination based on a person's gender. The N.H. Paycheck Fairness Act, or Senate Bill 207, eliminates loopholes, increases wage transparency and ensures workers have the resources to earn a fair and equal paycheck without fear of retaliation.
The bill was a priority of Senate Minority Leader Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, and House Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, both retiring at the end of the session in December.
The bill allows for the possibility of differences in pay based on the specific duties of a job as well as workers' experience and education.
Ensuring that women and men can earn equal pay for an equal day's work isn't just an issue of fairness, it's essential to our economic future. I am proud to sign this common-sense, bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the economic security of hard-working Granite Staters and eliminate an unnecessary strain on New Hampshire families.
While paycheck fairness legislation remains stalled in our nation's capital, here in New Hampshire we've shown once again that we can come together to expand middle class opportunity and move our economy forward. I want to thank Senator Larsen, Speaker Norelli and legislators from both parties for coming together to pass the most significant piece of legislation for women in New Hampshire's workforce in over a decade.