100 Days and Where Are We?

The first 100 days of President Obama’s administration have passed. So has change come to Washington, or have then D.C. insiders gotten their claws into this green newcomer? So far, I would say Obama has embraced the Change moniker. During the current budget debate he asked the GOP to come to him and show him where they would cut spending. What? Normally this type of disagreement is fought with dueling press conferences. One party touts their program, and then other has a press conference saying the program stinks and they have a better one. Then more pressers back and forth, but the two sides don’t actually talk and find a solution. Now I don’t know if Obama will consider any of the Republican suggestions, but just the fact that he asked for them is a change.

So what has the Obama administration meant for women? There are some very positive steps forward. One of those steps was the first piece of legislation he signed, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Lilly worked at Goodyear Tire & Rubber CO. for 19 years. During that entire time she was paid less than her male coworkers even though she did the same job. She filed suit and it went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the judges told her than the claim was invalid because she did not file within 180 days of the first time Goodyear paid her less. This new legislation extends that time frame for another 180 days. Okay, I think we all would have liked to see something more, but Obama does not make law, that is Congress. But either way this is a good start and shows Obama is committed to women’s issues.

Obama also created the White House Council on Women and Girls. It is an inter-agency task force that is charged with improving the economic, social, familial, and heath related status of women. This sounds like a great idea, but they have a huge umbrella of issues to cover and I am unsure if they will have any real power, or will they function more as an advisory group. Hopefully First Lady Michelle Obama will integrate herself into this council and function as a spokesperson.

The stimulus bill includes an increase in funding for Pell education grants and job training programs. This helps everyone, not just women. But overall this makes college more affordable for many people and allows others the opportunity to find a new career after a job loss.

I am still waiting to see a Equal Pay measure come off the Hill and head to the White House. The last time we addressed this inequity was 1963. The American Association of University Women says for the first time in history women are poised to become the majority of the workforce, and during this recession, more women have become the breadwinners for their families. That is good news, but we need to support these women with the equal pay they deserve to keep this country growing.

Overall I think the first hundred days of the Obama administration shows promise and thoughtfulness. The President seems to listen to all sides and then choose a course. It may not always be the right course, but at least he is open to outside input and understands that he does not have all the answers.

Now what about that new dog…