A letter to the editor from the Wasatch County GOP vice-chairman is roiling social media in Utah.
James Green sent his letter to the Wasatch Wave, arguing against a bill that would ensure women get paid the same as men for doing the same work. Green’s letter is flooding Facebook and other social media channels in Utah, prompting outrage.
Sen. Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi, is pushing SB210, which would require employers to pay women the same as men during the first three years of employment.
Vice-Chairman Green is having none of it. He says men should be paid more than women because they are the traditional breadwinners for families, and having higher salaries allows women to stay home and take care of children.
“If businesses are forced to pay women the same as male earnings, that means they will have to reduce the pay for the men they employ… simple economics. If that happens, then men will have an even more difficult time earning enough to support their families, which will mean more Mothers will be forced to leave the home (where they may prefer to be) to join the workforce to make up the difference.”
Green also argues that forcing more women into the workforce will put further downward pressure on wages, which will force even more women into the workforce.
We should encourage our Legislators to drop the whole notion. Let the marketplace determine what free-market forces should prevail. It is not the role of government to dictate to businesses what they should pay anyway… either as a Minimum Wage or Equal Pay for men and women.
