Issue Position: Battling Inequality Across America

Issue Position

Congress has a responsibility to lead America in fighting for greater equality and fairness. Jimmy Panetta knows that we have made progress in some areas -- and fallen further behind in others. The gap between the rich and everyone else has grown dramatically in our post Great Recession recovery as income levels have stagnated for working Americans. The key to success in America is that everyone has the opportunity to succeed based on their capabilities -- not their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. To do this, we need an economy that produces good jobs and makes sure that all are treated fairly under the law. That must start with a fairer tax code that gets rid of special interest loopholes and deductions so that everyone, including the wealthy pay their fair share of necessary government services. Marriage equality has brought new hope to the LGBT community, but so much more needs to be done to strip discriminatory laws from the federal, state, and local levels. Despite more opportunities in the workplace, women still make only 79 cents on the dollar that men make. That's not right -- we can and must do better beginning with passing the Paycheck Fairness Act which would close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act, giving women more tools to force employers to provide equal pay for equal work. Jimmy's goal is to help lead the charge in Congress to tackle income inequality and discriminatory laws which threaten the fabric of our society.

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