Obama Signs Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

clipped from news.yahoo.com President Barack Obama signed an equal-pay bill into law Thursday before cheering labor and women leaders who fought hard for it and the woman whose history-making lawsuit gave impetus to the cause. Obama, choosing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as the first bill to sign as president, called it a "wonderful day" and declared that ending pay disparities between men and woman an issue not just for women, but for all workers. With Ledbetter standing by his side, Obama said she lost more than $200,000 in salary, and even more in pension and Social Security benefits that she "still feels today." He then signed the measure that effectively nullifies a 2007 Supreme Court decision and makes it easier for workers to sue for discrimination by allowing them more time to do so.

The piece goes on:

Ledbetter said she didn't become aware of the large discrepancy in her pay until she neared the end of her 19-year career at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Gadsden, Ala, and she filed a lawsuit. But the high court held in a 5-4 decision that she missed her chance to bring the action.

The court ruled that Ledbetter didn't sue within 180 days of the discriminatory action -- even though she didn't know about it. It was an absurd ruling by a majority made up of pro-corporate, anti-worker shills.

This a good bill to be the first signed into law by the new president. SCOTUS may be committed to helping companies screw workers, but that can be fixed.