Senate Republicans kill pay discrimination bill

The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 23, 2008; 6:42 PM

WASHINGTON -- Republicans in the Senate have killed a bill that would have removed limits on how long workers can wait before suing their employers for pay discrimination.

The 56-42 vote came after a debate aimed straight at key Democratic constituencies in an election year in which the presidency, every House seat and a third of the Senate will be on the ballot.

So important was the bill to Democrats that Majority Leader Harry Reid delayed the vote until dinnertime to allow Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to cast votes and, for the first time in months, speak on the Senate floor. Republican presidential candidate John McCain did not attend the vote.

Opponents said the bill would cause a flood of lawsuits. Democrats said it was needed to help employees to recoup lost wages.