Here are two elements of Housley’s record on women and economic issues.
Housley has made clear through her votes and her own comments that not only will she oppose legislative efforts to help women, she doesn’t think it’s worth her or Congress’ time.
Karin Housley voted against ensuring equal pay for women and expanding paid family and sick leave
Housley voted against the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA), which was signed into law on Mother’s Day in 2014 and is considered landmark bipartisan legislation. WESA helps to close the gender pay gap by ensuring equal pay for equal work, expand paid family and sick leave, and strengthens workplace protections for women. More than 30 Republicans in the House and Senate voted for WESA. Despite this bipartisan effort, Housley voted against it.
Karin Housley said legislation to help women makes them look “weaker”
Earlier this year, Housley was asked about “what legislation she is putting forth to make things better or easier for women.” Her response? Housley said, “I believe that when you’re doing that, you make us look weaker.” She continued: “I think sometimes when we legislate to help women, we actually aren’t helping them.”
Millions of women have been helped by legislation: the 19th Amendment, the Equal Pay Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and Minnesota’s Women’s Economic Security Act.