LD1703 modifies the Maine Equal Pay Law to stipulate that within the same establishment, employers cannot differentiate between employees based on race by offering lower wages to any employee for a particular job within the state if the requirements for skill, effort, and responsibility are comparable to those of another race.
The Maine State House of Representatives passed LD1703 on June 6, 2023 by a vote of 112 to 20. We have assigned pluses to the nays because equal pay for equal work is a liberal talking point and businesses should be paying their employees based on experience and performance or however they see fit. The government should not be telling businesses how they should be compensating their employees. That is done naturally by the free market.
United States Constitution
Fifth Amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
United States Constitution
Ninth Amendment
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
United States Constitution
14th Amendment Section 1
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
