Clark on the Gender Gap

Wesley Clark unveiled his plan today for closing the pay gap for women. The highlights:

Today, women still earn only 73 cents for every dollar men earn.  The statistics for women of color are even worse: African American women earn only 64 cents, and Hispanic women earn only 55 cents, for every dollar earned by white men. Wes Clark has a three-part plan to close the pay gap:

1. Increase penalties on employers who discriminate
• Allow women who have been discriminated against to recover compensatory and punitive damages
• Make it easier for women to build a case against employers who discriminate
• Enhance data reporting to eliminate discrimination
2. Improve pay for women
• Increase the minimum wage to $7 an hour by 2007
• Promote Families First Tax Reform to benefit women
• Expand continuing education and job training
3. Support working women
• Expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to business with 25 or more employees
• Expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover routine school and medical appointments and appointments related to domestic violence
• Provide paid leave for employees
• Increase funding for child care and provide pre-school education for all children