{"id":165,"date":"2015-03-13T14:50:00","date_gmt":"2015-03-13T21:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.42dems.org\/?p=165"},"modified":"2015-03-13T14:50:00","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T21:50:00","slug":"legislative-cut-off-shows-clear-differences-between-democrats-and-republicans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.42dems.org\/?p=165","title":{"rendered":"Legislative cut-off shows clear differences between Democrats and Republicans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Democrats prioritize equality, hard-working families, the environment, and schools as legislative deadline passes.<\/strong>
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OLYMPIA \u2013 Wednesday evening marked the legislative cut-off, where bills either get passed on to the other chamber or die a legislative death for the year. As the cut-off came and went, the differences in priorities between Democrats and Republicans became increasingly clear.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, the final bill Democrats in the House took up was the Equal Pay Opportunity Act sponsored by Rep. Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island), aiming to eliminate gender discrimination when it comes to compensation in the workplace. Despite the state\u2019s 1943 Equal Pay law, women make just 79 cents to the man\u2019s dollar, ranking Washington 33rd in the nation.<\/p>\n

The bill, which was opposed by an astounding 43 Republicans in the House, would seek to lessen that gap by prohibiting employers from retaliating against employees for discussing workplace compensation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe difference in priorities is clear,\u201d said Jaxon Ravens, Chair of the Washington State Democrats. \u201cActions speak louder than words, and Republicans in Olympia have repeatedly shown that instead of investing in Washington, they side with special interests, big corporations, and extremists who want to take us backward when it comes to our basic rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other key policies passed by the House and opposed overwhelmingly by Republicans include:<\/p>\n