With studies showing a continuing pay gap between the wages earned by men and women – legislators in Wisconsin are seeking to do something about it. Jesse Russell has more.

Legislators and supporters of a bill that would strengthen the state of Wisconsin’s law prohibiting discrimination in the workplace gathered at the Capital building in Madison on Tuesday. They cited a recent study showing women in Wisconsin earning 25 percent less than their male counterparts. State Senator Dave Hansen of Green Bay said the 2007 Equal Pay Bill musty be passed to send a message to children that if they work hard and apply themselves there are no limits to what they can accomplish:

[Hansen]: It is way past time that we take the action necessary to fulfill that promise to all of them.

The bill would grant workers a way to recover damages – something the law currently does not allow. Hansen said passing the bill will do more than just equalize wages:

[Hansen2]: The Equal Pay Enforcement Act sends an important message about the value that we as a society put on the average worker. People deserve to be fairly compensated for putting in a hard days work.