August 27, 2018 Media, Press Releases

CASTEN CELEBRATES WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY, ASSAILS PETER ROSKAM’S ABYSMAL RECORD

Says Incumbent Votes to “Bar the Door” to Economic Fairness

(Downers Grove, IL) August 26, 2018 – Congressional candidate Sean Casten today accused Congressman Peter Roskam of voting to “bar the door” to fairness and equity for women in the workplace, citing Women’s Equality Day of August 26th to highlight Roskam’s record of hostility to women’s economic rights.

“Today we celebrate Women’s Equality Day, and recognize the date the Constitution was amended to include women’s right to vote,” said Casten. “Women marched in our nationals capital in 1913 to bring awareness to women’s suffrage, and in 2017 the fight for equality continued with the Women’s March.”

“Unfortunately, the thousands of working women in the Sixth District — and millions across the country — are having to refight battles against wage discrimination because of Congressman Peter Roskam. At a time when working families are struggling, Roskam continues to actively and consistently vote against wage equity. We need a Representative in Congress who will fight for and promote economic equality, not rubber-stamps like Peter Roskam who stands with Trump 94 percent of the time.”  

Women in Illinois still earn only 79 cents to every dollar earned by a man. Peter Roskam has voted against legislation to fix that. Additionally, Peter is yet to break with the President or his party to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act which is due to expire at the end of September.

In Congress, Peter Roskam:

  • Voted repeatedly against equal-pay-for-equal work laws for women, including the last time one was considered before the election of Donald Trump [H. Res. 189, Vote #148, 4/14/15];

  • Voted against considering an amendment that would have prevented insurance plans from charging women higher premiums than men [H.R. 7, Vote #64, 11/24/17];

  • Voted against the landmark Lily Ledbetter Act, which outlawed wage discrimination against women [S. 181, Vote #37, 1/27/09].

  • Voted against the Violence against Women Act which is set to expire at the end of September 2018. [S. 47, Vote #55, 2/28/13]