On Equal Pay Day, Gender Equality Champion Dr. Martha Burk Endorses Martin Heinrich

Press Release

Today, as the country marks Equal Pay Day, U.S. Senate candidate Martin Heinrich and gender equality champion and scholar Dr. Martha Burk highlight the importance of fair pay for women in New Mexico. Dr. Burk joins a growing list of women leaders across New Mexico endorsing Heinrich.

"Martin Heinrich has served New Mexico well in the U.S. House, and has taken the lead on issues most important to women and families. As a father with a working spouse and two small children, he understands the challenges of work/life balance," said Dr. Burk. "As our next Senator, Martin Heinrich will fight for equal pay for women, safe and affordable child care, and quality education for New Mexico girls and boys. It is my honor to endorse him for this most important office."

Martha Burk is a political psychologist and women's issues expert who is co-founder of the Center for Advancement of Public Policy, a research and policy analysis organization in Washington, D.C. She is currently Director of the Corporate Accountability Project for the National Council of Women's Organizations. She also serves as the Money Editor for Ms. Magazine, and she is host of the public radio show Equal Time originating at KSFR public radio in Santa Fe. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her latest book Your Voice, Your Vote: The Savvy Woman's Guide to Power, Politics, and the Change We Need (March 2012) is a Ms. Magazine book selection.

"It is an incredible honor to receive Dr. Burk's support--someone who has made women's equality her life's work," said Heinrich. "In an economic climate where every penny counts, rewarding work fairly is critical. We must end pay discrimination and ensure equality for women in the workplace--creating a fairer, more just society and strengthening the economic stability of our families."

Although the gap between men's and women's wages has narrowed over the past five decades, the typical woman continues to be paid substantially less than the typical man. According to a new report by the National Women's Law Center, the typical woman in New Mexico working full time, year round was paid only 79 cents to every dollar paid to a man working full time, year round in 2010. That is 2 cents narrower than the nationwide wage gap of 77 cents. The wage gap is even more substantial for Native American, Hispanic, and African-American women.

A strong advocate for women and working families, Martin Heinrich cosponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which is now law, to restore the right of women and other workers to challenge unfair pay in court. Heinrich is also a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act to give teeth to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by creating stronger incentives for employers to follow the law, and gives women the tools they need to fight pay discrimination. Additionally, Heinrich has consistently fought back against Republican attacks on women's health care and Social Security, and he led the effort to increase the minimum wage when he was on the Albuquerque City Council.

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