Stroud 11
The wage gap in Louisiana received legislative attention during the 2004 Regular
Session. Representative Karen Carter, Orleans Parish Representative, brought House Bill No.
1193 before the House and the Senate. House Bill No. 1193 called for the creation of an Equal
Pay Commission to determine the extent of income disparities between and amongst men,
women, and minorities. Additionally, the bill called for an impact study of the earnings
inequality on the Louisiana economy as a whole and the affected families.
28
The House of
Representatives passed the bill with a vote of ninety-two in favor of, one against, and one absent.
The Senate passed the bill with a vote of thirty-seven for, two against, and ten absent.
29
On
November 11, 2004, Governor Kathleen signed the bill into law.
30
For Louisiana women, this means that the government will begin to investigate the
reasons for wage disparity between men and women. Optimistically, Louisiana will take the
findings and use them to work with state and local businesses to pay women more.
Phyllis Mayo, the current special assistant to the Governor on Women and Children in
Louisiana, is optimistic about the future for women in politics. Mrs. Mayo uses the election of
Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco as an example of women helping women enter into
politics. She believes that Louisiana women are seeing that the envelope can be pushed: women
can be involved in Louisiana politics at all levels and make a difference. Mrs. Mayo did feel that
although women are extremely viable to be candidates in Louisiana elections, chances are they
are still not likely to be very successful, “Candidates more often than not are elected on the basis
of bank and the ability to effectively run campaigns.
31
” This trend, however, is set to change.
Mayo looks to the Louisiana women of the baby-boom era to create a surge of successful women
28
Carter, Karen, ACT 795 (Louisiana State Capital, Baton Rouge, LA), 2004.
29
Ibid.
30
House Bill No. 1193 became ACT No. 795.
31
Mayo, Interview, 2004.
Convention