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Statement

STATEMENT OF Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, CEO and Co-Founder, Momsrising, on Presidential Debate

October 23, 2012
MomsVote, Equal Pay

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement by Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner in response to last night’s presidential debate on foreign policy in Boca Raton and discussions of gender equality
"Last night, we were delighted to hear that both President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney strongly support gender equality for women in other nations.  Governor Romney's position took us by surprise, however, since he still won’t say whether he supports gender equality here in the United States, including such legislation as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act.
 
Women and mothers have a lot at stake in this election and we’re paying attention to what the candidates say about the issues that most directly affect us and our families.  We’re concerned about providing for our families financially, making sure we have accessible health care, affordable child care, access to earned sick days, and that we have the ability to raise healthy, happy kids. We can only achieve all of these things if we receive equal pay for equal work.  
 
When women don't get equal pay for equal work, then our whole economy suffers. Women currently comprise half of the entire paid labor force and our economy is now mainly, for better or worse, built on consumer consumption. Women make three-quarters of those consumer purchasing decisions. So if women don't have funds to fuel our economy, then it hurts us all, men, women, businesses, and families alike.
 
During the debate, Governor Romney made an effort to appeal to women and get our votes - but if the Governor really wants women’s and mothers’ votes, he needs to tell us where he stands on fair pay for women in the United States.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.