Just recently, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation prohibiting paydiscrimination against women. New Mexico legislators from both parties are comingtogether to close the pay gap in their state. While Colorado House Democrats arewilling to lead on this issue in our state, it doesn’t have to be a partisan battle.

So it’s unfortunate to see House Republicans attacking equal pay policies. Closing thepay gap would cut the poverty rate for women in half, put billions into our state’seconomy, and bring more families into the middle class. This is an opportunity to worktogether. Instead, some Republicans would deny the economic realities women in theworkforce face.

Here are the facts:

• A half century after Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, Census Bureau datashows that women in Colorado earn only 82 cents to the dollar earned by menfor performing the same work.• Race widens the pay gap – Hispanic women earn just 54 cents on the dollar, andAfrican American women only 66 cents.• At the current rate, Colorado’s wage gap won’t be closed until 2057.

Despite clear evidence of a wage gap that is hurting families, keeping children inpoverty and hobbling our state’s economic growth, Rep. Clarice Navarro recentlyargued that “pay equity is an issue of the past.” We respectfully disagree. When working women face pay inequity now and for decades into the future, it mocks everyColoradan’s intelligence to claim that “both men and women alike can see theextraordinary changes that now ensure equal pay for equal work.”

In denying these basic economic facts of life, Republican elected officials fail ourconstituents, particularly in areas like Pueblo County where women earn even less thanthe state average – only 68 cents to the dollar.

Instead, there is every reason to make pay equity a bipartisan mission. That may meanstepping outside of one’s comfortable partisan ideology, but doing so will makeColorado stronger. Let’s pass the Equal Pay in State Contracts Act so our tax dollarssupport businesses that pay women the same as men for the same work. And weshould make it illegal to question applicants about their salary history by passing theFair Pay from the Start bill. Lastly, let’s protect employees from retaliation for talking to each other about their wages. As the sponsors of these bills, we welcome bipartisan support. Let’s work together for Colorado women.

State Rep. Jessie DanielsonState Rep. Janet Buckner State Rep. Brittany Pettersen State Rep. Joe Salazar State Rep. Faith Winter