Equal Pay Getting Equal Time in Race?

Equal pay is the latest issue in New Hampshire's gubernatorial race.

Or, at least, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Maggie Hassan sees it as one after Republican rival Ovide Lamontagne's interview with ThinkProgress, a liberal blog of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. An excerpt from the story:

"I certainly think women should be paid the same as men. Young workers should be paid the same as older workers if they achieve the criteria for salary. But I don't know that it's appropriate for the government to continue to micromanage the workplace. But if there’s a legitimate disparity I think there’s remedies that are available, for discrimination in the workplace, and if there aren’t we should have that legal remedy available. If people feel, man or woman, that they’re being discriminated against on a salary compensation, they should be able to assert that claim if that is in fact the case."

Read the ThinkProgress story in full.

Hassan issued the following statement Oct. 22 in response:

"Ovide’s comments should concern all hard working Granite Staters who are trying to earn a living to support their family. Pay discrimination is making it harder for families to make ends meet across the State of New Hampshire, with women earning only 65 cents on the dollar compared to men. Ensuring that everyone receives equal pay for an equal day’s work is hardly micromanaging, it’s basic fairness. And Ovide’s lack of knowledge of New Hampshire’s twelve-year old pay equity law only proves just how out of touch he is with the needs of working men and women. I strongly support equal pay laws, and as governor, I will work to keep our state moving forward, while it becomes clearer every day just how much Ovide’s radical ideas will hurt families and take New Hampshire backwards.”

Tom Cronin, spokesman for Lamontagne, issued the following statement Oct. 23, saying Hassan was spinning the story away from the truth. He said:

"As Ovide said in the clip, he certainly thinks women should be paid the same as men and there should be legal remedies available to ensure that is the case and as governor he would support enacting laws necessary to do just that. Sen. Hassan's campaign is taking five seconds of a 105 second clip out of context to try and concoct a story. As the momentum in this campaign continues to swing behind Ovide, the Hassan campaign's desperation is pathetic.

"The way to put New Hampshire women and men back to work at good, high paying sustainable jobs is by reforming state government to reducing taxes and regulations, improving our education delivery system to ensure a highly trained workforce, and reducing the costs of health care and energy on our businesses and employees. Ovide has a plan to do just that. Sen Hassan has a record of doing just the opposite. As a tax, borrow, spend and regulate liberal we saw unemployment rise during her time in office along with a 24% increase in state spending and 99 new taxes and fees to pay for it. Sen. Hassan's record is one of failure and that is why the voters of her district fired her just two years ago and it is why her campaign continues to try and district voters by fabricating stories like this one."

So, what do you think of the latest campaign buzz? Let us know in the comment section below.

– Dan Tuohy