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Updated: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Vetoes Equal Pay Bill


A few months ago, I pointed readers to an equal pay bill that was sitting on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's desk.  That bill, which passed both chambers of the state's legislature would have banned employers from paying women less for "substantially similar" work as men and would have allowed differing pay rates between genders only if employers could prove it was based on something besides sex (such as education, experience, performance, etc.).  

One of the concerns with this equal pay bill is that under the language passed by the state legislature, women would be paid equally if they were doing the same tasks in a different role.  Compare this with most equal pay bills which require equal pay for the exact same work.

I had expressed my skepticism about whether the Governor would sign this legislation into law as he had vetoed two similar bills previously.  It turns out, I was right.  Governor Christie vetoed the legislation on the grounds that it was "nonsensical" and what it would make New Jersey business unfriendly.  In doing so, he returned the legislation to the state legislature with suggested changes.  Whether a similar equal pay bill will come before Governor Christie again is hard to say.  But I would certainly expect that if equal pay remains a talking point nationally, I would expect the New Jersey legislature to give it another shot.  Stay tuned.


A link to Governor Christie's comments on his veto:  nj.gov/governor/news/news/552016/pdf/20160502b/S992%20CV.PDF

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