Hood calls for equal pay on National Equal Pay Day

On national Equal Pay Day, Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Hood today pointed to Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves’ continued failure in leadership in passing an Equal Pay Bill in Mississippi.

Fifty-five years after passage of the federal Equal Pay Act, Mississippi is only one of two states that has not passed a law prohibiting gender-based pay equity discrimination.

“In 2019, it is morally wrong and economically unjust for Mississippi women to be paid, on average, 73% of what men make; and for women of color to be paid be paid even less for doing the same the work as men. Yet, as head of the State Senate for eight legislative sessions, Tate Reeves has arrogantly opposed equal pay bills, even when sponsored by members of his own party.”

In 2019, Reeves oversaw the death of three equal pay bills. “Mississippi women deserve better from Tate Reeves,” said Hood.

“It’s way overdue for Mississippi to join 48 other states in passing an equal pay bill. As governor, I will lead the effort for equal pay for equal work and move Mississippi forward. As the father of two daughters, this is not only the right thing to do, but will provide an increase in women paychecks and a boost to our state’s economy,” said Hood.

Hood said any pay equity bill should require equal pay for comparable jobs, eliminate the salary history question on job applications, and set up guidelines for equal pay claims and compensation.

The three Senate bills killed by Reeves in 2019 were:

SB 2334: “Mississippi Pay Equality Act” to provide that no employer shall pay an employee a wage at a rate less than the rate at which an employee of a different gender is paid for equal work.

SB 2845: No employer may pay an employee a wage at a rate less than the rate at which an employee of the opposite sex in the same establishment is paid for equal work on a job.

SB 2910: The “Evelyn Gandy Fair Pay Act” to prohibit discrimination by industries engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce against any employee on the basis of sex by paying a salary or wage to such employee at a rate less than the rate paid to its employees of the opposite sex for equal work.

Press Release

Jim Hood for Governor

4/2/2019