Sen. Kay Hagan said that women have made progress, but not enough.
Speaking at a pro-choice women's luncheon in Washington Sunday, the Greensboro Democrat noted that she was taking the seat of former Sen. Jesse Helms, drawing brief boos from the audience.
She related that in 1999 Helms kicked now-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and nine other Congresswomen out of a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after they tried to present him with a petition to sign an international treaty against the discrimination of women.
"That's whose seat I am taking," she said. "Looking around this room today, I know that you would agree that a lot has changed in this country and a lot has changed in the great state of North Carolina."
Speaking at an event sponsored by EMILY's List, Hagan repeated her support for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which would extend the time period for filing a discrimination claim. It is the first bill Hagan has cosponsored and was the subject of her first speech in the Senate.
She also noted a smaller, but still irritating, act of discrimination.
"Imagine my surprise when I tried to use the Senate members' gym recently and found out that there is a pool, but — guess what — it's only for the men," she said.
| Hagan at Emily's List |
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Republican post of the day
Kennedy may die!
And the Obligatory Kennedy joke of the day from Republicans happens to be:
Precious.
The Republican nominated "quote of the day" folks, is Kennedy is finally dead.
Maybe you guys can get a two-for-Tuesday if Byrd dies too. WOOHOO!