Two measures were introduced in the Oregon legislature this week aimed at making sure women are paid the same rate as men for similar work.
It's already against Oregon law for employers to pay men and women differently when they're performing comparable work.
But supporters of so-called "pay equity" legislation say the wage gap rears its head in more subtle ways. For instance, Democratic Sen. Michael Dembrow said employers often require applicants to submit a salary history before giving them a job offer.
"It really discriminates against women who have taken time off from work to deal with their families, etc.," Dembrow said.
Dembrow's bill would ban that.
It would also give people more time to sue if an employee finds out they're getting paid less than a colleague with similar seniority and responsibilities.
That bill and a similar measure in the House were both introduced this week. All of the co-sponsors are Democrats.
Spokesmen for House and Senate Republicans both said members of their caucuses were reviewing the legislation.
Several studies, including ones by the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries and the Oregon Center for Public Policy, estimate that Oregon women earn about 80 percent on average compared to men doing similar work.
