A Presidential Memorandum due to be signed Tuesday will require federal contractors to submit wage data by sex and race, which the Department of Labor will use "to encourage voluntary compliance with equal pay laws and allowing more targeted enforcement by focusing efforts where there are discrepancies, reducing burdens on other employers." [...] In order to create more pay transparency in the workforce, Obama will sign an Executive Order prohibiting federal contractors from retaliating against workers who share salary data, according to a memo from a White House official.
Democrats are launching a new campaign hitting Republican Senate candidates on the pay gap between women and men. The party believes the push for equal pay will be an electoral winner for Democrats, as they typically enjoy stronger support from women than men. Their polling also shows the issue moves persuadable voters of both genders toward Democrats. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will run web, Twitter and Facebook ads. A social media push using the hashtag #GOPPayGap will highlight instances in which GOP Senate candidates have come out as opposed to equal pay.