From the Court to the Congress: Analyzing the Pay Equity Policy Implications from Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Co. (2007)

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2009

Disciplines

Economics | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Advisor

Claire Haeg, Economics

Abstract

How has Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Co. (2007) affected pay equity policymaking in Congress? Why did the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 fail while the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 passed? I will apply the Ledbetter decision to Meernik and Ignagni's model of decision reversal legislation to determine its impact on the Supreme Court and Congress. I anticipate my research will prove my hypothesis that the Supreme Court's decision was a triggering event for congressional action as it generated enough public interest to propel the issue out of policy stasis. Furthermore, I predict the 111th Congress passed decision reversal legislation because of support from the stronger Democratic majority in Congress, President Obama's administration, outraged citizens, and mobilized women's interest groups.

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