Arizona Republicans Mark Equal Pay Day By Refusing Vote On ERA

TUCSON, AZ – Confronted with the choice of getting some work done or calling it quits for the day so that they could avoid a vote on the Equal Rights Amendment, Republicans in the Arizona House of Representatives chose the later. They adjourned after taking one vote – the vote to adjourn.

The measure to consider the amendment was brought by Rep. Pamela Powers Hannely (D-Tucson) who said that she picked Tuesday because it was "Equal Pay Day," the day when the average woman in the United States finally earns what her male counterpart earned the year before.

"Arizona women want equal pay for equal work," Hannley said from the floor. "Let’s make history. There is no time limit on equality."

While there was some debate on the floor, House Majority Leader John Allen moved to adjourn the chamber for the day before there was a chance to vote. The vote to adjourn was 32-25 along party lines. (Get Tucson Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

The Equal rights Amendment was passed by Congress in 1972. While originally 38 states were needed to ratify it by 1979, that deadline was extended by three years. Last year, the issue was brought back up when Nevada became the 36th state to ratify.

Arizona, where women make 82 cents on the dollar earned by their male counterparts, is one of 14 states to not ratify the amendment.

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Photo via Arizona State Museum.