Congresswoman Barbara Comstock's 10th Congressional District has the largest pay gap between men and women in Virginia with women earning just 67.7 percent of what men earn. Despite the glaring inequality, Comstock has voted two times against consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act - legislation that would strengthen and supplement existing pay equity laws, and help close the gap in her district.

What's more, Comstock has been touting her commitment to helping women in the workplace but Virginia women aren't fooled: She characterized women who advocated for equal pay as “partisan” and having a “left wing agenda.”

Between Comstock's hypocritical record and desperate scramble to distance herself from Donald Trump, it's clear she's focused on politics and optics, not the economic equality of women in her district.

“Congresswoman Comstock's district has the largest pay gap in Virginia with women making just 68 percent of what men make, yet she's fiercely opposed to legislation to support wage equality. Comstock is doing what she does best: providing lip service to women in her district without actually doing anything to help them," said Emily Bolton, Communications Director for the Democratic Party of Virginia.

BACKGROUND:

Virginia's 10th Congressional District has the largest pay gap of all of the Congressional Districts in Virginia [Gender Pay Inequality Consequences for Women, Families and the Economy, Joint Economic Committee Report, April 2016]

Voted twice for blocking consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act

• Voted For Blocking Consideration Of The Paycheck Fairness Act. In April 2015, Comstock voted for blocking consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would end the pay gap between men and women and unsure equal pay for equal work. “The legislation would protect workers from retaliation for sharing information about their wages, require employers to explain any pay disparities among workers performing the same job, and allow employees to seek unlimited punitive damages in wage bias cases.” The previous question passed 239 to 183. A vote against the previous question would have allowed the bill to be considered. [H. Res. 189, Vote #148, 4/14/15; Bloomberg, 4/14/15; Congressional Record, 4/14/15; Democratic Leader – Previous Questions, 4/14/15]

• Voted For Blocking Consideration Of The Paycheck Fairness Act. In April 2015, Comstock voted for blocking consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would end the pay gap between men and women and unsure equal pay for equal work. “The legislation would protect workers from retaliation for sharing information about their wages, require employers to explain any pay disparities among workers performing the same job, and allow employees to seek unlimited punitive damages in wage bias cases.” The previous question passed 240 to 183. A vote against the previous question would have allowed the bill to be considered. [H. Res. 200, Vote #154, 4/15/15; Bloomberg, 4/14/15; Congressional Record, 4/15/15; Democratic Leader – Previous Questions, 4/15/15]

VIDEO: Comstock accused Lilly Ledbetter of being “partisan” and having a “Left Wing agenda”

• In 2012, Comstock said that Lilly Ledbetter and other women who advocated for equal pay legislation had a “left wing agenda” and called them “partisan.” [MSNBC, 10/18/12]

Voted Against Motion That Would Have Protected “Women’s Rights To Equal Wages” By Excluding Claims Of Employment Discrimination From Bill

• Voted Against Motion That Would Have Protected “Women’s Rights To Equal Wages,” By Excluding Claims Of Employment Discrimination From Bill. In September 2015, Comstock voted against on Democratic motion to recommit with instructions HR 758. “The Democratic Motion to Recommit protects women’s right to demand equal wages, by excluding claims of employment discrimination from the underlying bill that raises new obstacles for Americans to seek remedy in the courts.” The motion to recommit failed 179 to 239. [HR 758, Vote #500, 9/17/15; Democratic Motion to Recommit, HR 758, 9/17/15]