Republicans block Paycheck Fairness Act

Shocker:

Today, Senate Republicans voted unanimously against legislation to close the pay gap between women and men. The Senate voted 58-41 against allowing debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help end discriminatory pay practices against women. It had already passed the House.

And why would Republicans vote against Paycheck Fairness? Oh yeah:

Opponents of the legislation, including [Susan] Collins, have voiced concern that it would lead to "excessive litigation on to the small-business community." "This bill appears to go way beyond the Lilly Ledbetter Act and I am concerned what the impact would be," she said in September.

Right. Because small business owners should have the right to pay women and minorities less than they pay their white male employees. It's the American way.

And, as an added shocker, both of the senators from Maine voted last year for the Lilly Ledbetter Act. As Sen. Snowe explained at the time:

“This new law[] sends a clear message to the American people that this Congress is committed to these core principles and will continue to work in bipartisan fashion to break down the barriers of wage discrimination in our nation.”

Yeah, but that was then, and this is now, and apparently, Republicans have a new clear message for the American people:

This Republicans in Congress is are committed to blocking these core principles and will continue to work in bipartisan partisan fashion to break down keep the barriers of wage discrimination in our nation.

Does that about sum it up, Sen. Snowe?