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Several weeks ago, Democrats in the Senate wanted to pass a bi-partisan resolution calling attention to women's low wages, and asking employers to voluntarily right the wrongs of pay inequity. To kill the resolution, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MISSed) made hash of it with smart-alecky hand-written revisions that denigrated the problem and women in the process. Judy Mann of the Washington Post blows the whistle on this small-mindedness in today's column. See the full text of Lott's insults below and express your outrage to Lott at 202-224-6253; fax 202-224-4639; E-mail: [email protected]

1. Original Resolution

Whereas many families depend on the pay of working women;

Lott's revision

Whereas many families are forced to depend on the pay of working women, because of burdensome federal regulations that drain 1.3 trillion dollars from the economy every year;

2. Original Resolution

Whereas the inability to earn adequate pay is a burden for an entire family and sometimes forces women onto public assistance to provide for their families;

Lott's Revision

Whereas oppressive taxes and government interference in the workplace are a burden for an entire family and sometimes force many Americans onto public assistance to provide for their families;

2. Original Resolution

Whereas unfair pay disparities lead to inadequate savings for retirement and lower pensions for women;

Lott's revision

Whereas unfair federal taxes and regulatory policy lead to inadequate savings for retirement and lower pensions for women;

3. Original Resolution

Whereas working women have benefited the United States economy enormously;

Lott's revision

Whereas working women and those who choose to remain at home have benefited the United States economy enormously;

4. Original resolution

Whereas the provision of equal pay helps business by improving productivity and reducing employee turnover;

Lott's revision

Whereas America's tax burden has never been higher than the 30.4 percent reached in 1996;

5. Original resolution

(1) women have made great contributions to the United States workforce and the United States economy and should be paid fairly and have the same access to education and training as men;

Lott's revision

(1) women have made great contributions to the United States workforce and can achieve much more when the market is freed from the dead hand of government bureaucrats, high taxes, and over-regulation;

Some additions that Sen. Lott wants included to the Resolution:

Whereas the average weekly earnings of women who are college graduates is nearly 55 percent greater than their male counterparts who have not completed high school;

(5) Congress should guaranty the full implementation of welfare reform legislation enacted in the 104th Congress that requires young women to complete their high school educations as a condition of receiving federal welfare cash assistance;

(WFF 4/18/97)