Barrett goes after Walker for equal pay repeal

The latest television ad from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett accuses Gov. Scott Walker of opposing equal pay for women, a claim Democrats have been repeating for weeks as part of the rationale for recalling the first-term Republican on June 5.

The Barrett ad - dubbed "Close the Book on Walker" - is the continuation of Barrett's theme that Walker has torn the state apart over his 16 months in office, starting with his proposal-turned-law that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for workers. Barrett argues Walker's transgressions are far-reaching and include tax breaks for corporations, job losses and cuts to education.

The ad features a made-up book called "How to Rip Wisconsin Apart by Scott Walker," and a first chapter that's titled, "Say no to equal pay for equal work for women."

It's a reference to Walker repealing a law in April that allowed discriminated workers to bring lawsuits in state court. However, the law Walker repealed does not legalize paying women less for doing the same job as men.

Barrett's campaign spokesman Phil Walzak defended the wording in the latest campaign ad Tuesday.

"If you are repealing a law that everyone agrees makes it easier to have safeguards and protections for equal pay, you are saying no to equal pay for equal work," Walzak said. "He's not taking seriously equal pay for equal work."

Walker's campaign spokeswoman Ciara Matthews said Barrett was either lying or ignorant about the repealed law.

"It is, has been, and always will be so long as Scott Walker is governor, illegal to discriminate against women in the workplace," Matthews said.

The ad cites an Associated Press article from April 7 to back up the claim, but the article in question neither includes that wording nor substantiates Barrett's assertion in the ad.

Walker repealed the "Equal Pay Enforcement Act," which was passed in 2009 when Democrats controlled the Legislature. It allowed discriminated workers who have already proven their case to a state agency to then sue their employer in state circuit court for compensatory and punitive damages up to $300,000.

No one was ever sued under the nearly three-year-old law, which covers all types of discrimination including age and race. Supporters, including trial attorneys, argued that was a sign the law was working as a deterrent to discrimination in the workplace. Taking it away, they argued, sent the message that employers can get away with discrimination.

But opponents, including businesses, said the law wasn't being used because it was unnecessary.

Even with the change, employees who have suffered discrimination can still be awarded back pay, costs and attorneys' fees by the state Department of Workforce Development. They can also bring lawsuits in federal court, as was the case before the law Walker repealed went into effect.

Barrett and other Democrats have frequently mentioned the law in the lead up to the June 5 recall, saying it is evidence of a Walker and GOP "war on women."

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