WASHINGTON - June 5 - The National Organization for Women is deeply disappointed that conservatives in the U.S. Senate this afternoon prevented the Paycheck Fairness Act from being brought up for a debate and receiving a vote. Today, this bill had 52 votes to move forward, and the support of the majority of the Senate. By blocking this commonsense law, right-wing legislators have expanded the War on Women. But women are paying attention, and will remember in November.

The Senate's failure to agree to vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act is a direct blow to working women and their families. It is unacceptable that women are still paid, on average, 77 cents for every dollar paid to men. The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes in the 1963 Equal Pay Act and prevent employers from retaliating against workers for sharing salary information. An important milestone in the long journey toward workplace equality, the act would ensure that women in this country aren't bringing home smaller paychecks because of discrimination.

The people of this country, women and men alike, believe in fair pay. The politicians who voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act will pay a price at the polls -- and NOW activists around the country are already organizing to see that that happens.