The mouth-breather pictured above who looks like he did way too much cocaine at Junior's during the oil boom is Mike Seney. He's the Senior Vice President of Policy Analysis for the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce, the powerful lobbying group that represents the interests of white Oklahoma businessmen. If you need proof of this, check out the names and faces of their Executive Committee. Out of the 20 members, 19 of them are white men, and the lone woman, who likely earns less than the men, has the last name "Peck." How's that for some irony?
Earlier this week, Seney sent a memo to certain legislators imploring them to vote against House Bill 2929. It's the common-sense equal pay bill that would make it easier for Oklahoma women to find out if they are getting paid less than their male colleagues because they have different body parts. It would also increase fines for businesses who pay men more than women for equal work.
KFOR's Abby Broyles, who is probably paid less than Loren Fultonberg because she lives in Oklahoma and is a woman, has all the details:
Equal pay for women took a direct hit from the State Chamber of Commerce.
Right now, women make 73 cents on the dollar, compared to men.
A bill that would change that sailed through the House and Senate.
Then, came the letter.
The bill has been in committee to work out some of the language, and then a big blow came Wednesday afternoon from the business community.
The State Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to vote 'no' on the equal pay bill.
That's infuriating. How can a group be against equal pay for women? Oh wait, this is the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce. They have to protect the affluent white man status quo.