Clinton Calls For Pay Equity

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) quickly shifted from the scheduled topic of pay equity to the topic of the day—financial strife on Wall Street—at Barnard on Monday afternoon.

The former presidential candidate contrasted the views shared by herself and Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) with those of Republican nominee Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) and his running mate Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska). The press conference in Sulzberger Parlor was closed to students, except for roughly 35 people from related academic departments and extracurricular groups. Around 120 students watched a simulcast in the James Room.

The buzz had barely died down from last Thursday’s ServiceNation Presidential Candidates Forum featuring McCain and Obama in Lerner Hall when Clinton’s visit was announced over the weekend. Unlike last week’s nationally televised Forum, Monday’s event at Barnard was preceded by little hype and less student participation because the event itself was intended for the press.

Barnard President Debora Spar introduced Clinton, alluding to the bonds between Clinton’s alma mater, Wellesley College, and Barnard. Spar kicked off the press conference’s theme, pay equity between men and women in the workplace.

“Forty years ago, women at Barnard College, at Wellesley, and at great institutions across this country took over buildings and marched in streets to demand the most basic of equalities—equal pay, equal access, and equal rights,” Spar said. “Today it would seem as if we’ve come so far. Women are in medical and law school, in Wall Street firms and Hollywood studios, and coming closer than ever to seizing the highest reins of power.”

Yet as Spar and Clinton pointed out, a report conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office—the independent, nonpartisan “watchdog” that investigates congressional spending—revealed that President George W. Bush’s administration has not enforced pay equity laws.

Many of Clinton’s comments echoed or matched the sentiments she expressed when the report was released on Sept. 10.

A number of representatives from advocacy groups attended the press conference. Ana Oliveira, president and CEO of the New York Women’s Foundation, called attention to the special importance of pay equity during periods of economic hardship.

“We must remember that in times of financial vulnerability, those who are already financially vulnerable suffer the most,” Oliveira said.

Merble Reagon, executive director of the Women’s Center for Education and Career Advancement, said that pay equity problems also plague African-American men and men who are in lines of work dominated by women.

Sonia Ossorio of the New York City National Organization for Women spoke about maternal profiling, discrimination against potential hires who have children. She cited a study that indicated that women who implied on job applications that they were mothers were less likely to be called back for interviews.

“We know that Barnard graduates are going to achieve as much and work as well as their male counterparts at Columbia,” said Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) before introducing Clinton. “A woman should not have to work 16 months to earn what a man does for working a year.”

Clinton and Maloney have both advocated legislation to address issues of pay equity. They have worked to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which passed the House of Representatives on July 31 but has not yet been passed in the Senate because of a Republican filibuster.

Maloney expressed hope that the bill will pass now that “our lioness [Clinton] is back on the job.”

Later in the press conference, Clinton’s focus transitioned to the national economic struggles and turmoil on Wall Street.

“Many of you have been following the latest market volatility with great concern, and we’ve seen the financial landscape on Wall Street reshape literally overnight,” Clinton said.

The past few days have been turbulent, with securities firm Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch agreeing to sell to Bank of America. Insurance company American International Group is also facing severe financial struggles and is asking for help from the Federal Reserve.

Clinton slammed the Bush administration for its “reckless ideological agenda, placing more and more power in the hands of firms that used that power to take enormous financial risks with little oversight or accountability.”

“It wasn’t until the crisis hit Wall Street,” she said, “that the administration finally decided to act, and unfortunately, their actions have been haphazard and reactive at best.”

Clinton recommended better government regulation and legislation as a response to problems including the damage of subprime mortgages.

“Hopefully, come January we will have a new team,” Clinton said, alluding to Obama and vice presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden (D-Del.). “But I don’t think we can wait.”

melissa.repko@columbiaspectator.com