Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Equal Pay Bill Heads To Oregon Governor's Desk

Ballots for most Oregon voters should be mailed out starting April 27.
Chris Lehman
/
Northwest News Network
Ballots for most Oregon voters should be mailed out starting April 27.

Oregon lawmakers have signed off on a measure to ensure that women will be paid the same as men. The Oregon House approved the bill Monday.

It would ban some practices that can lead to unequal pay, such as using salary history to screen job applicants. The bill would also give more legal remedies to workers who feel they're being paid unfairly.

Republican Rep. Jodi Hack said the bill was long past due.

"I, as well as many other people, have experienced pay inequity,” she said. “But it's not just about the pay. It's about recognizing people for their hard work and for their efforts, and for what they bring to the table, and for giving our employers the opportunity to step forward and to do what is right."

The Oregon Senate approved the measure last week. The vote was unanimous in both chambers. A spokesman for Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said the governor is expected to sign the bill into law next week.

Copyright 2017 Northwest News Network

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December 2018 and became News Director in March 2023. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”