Think women should get paid the same as men for the same work? Yeah, we do, too, and now some lawmakers are hoping to make sure that happens.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-MD, in the Senate and House Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-CT, (who first introduced this legislation 12 years ago but amazingly, was not able to get it passed!), would help victims of pay discrimination seek compensation.

"Women earn just 77 cents for every dollar our male counterparts make. Women of color get paid even less," said Mikulski, the dean of the Senate women. The bill "will empower women to fight for fair pay by once again making employers accountable for pay discrimination. The right to equal pay for equal work is a fundamental civil right."

"Who is Lilly Ledbetter?" you may ask. She was an Alabama Goodyear employee for 19 years before realizing her pay was considerably less than her male counterparts. So, hoping for some justice, she sued. The Supreme Court, pretty much on a technicality, ruled 5-4 against Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. The Justices say that the complaint had to be filed within 180 days of the initial salary decision, even if the victim is unaware of the discrimination until later. Angry opponents scoffed, saying the decision eroded civil rights. Obama often cited the court case in stressing his commitment to work for women’s equality while on the campaign trail.

The bill passed in the House last Friday and is now headed to the Senate. Women’s groups and others like the Alliance for Justice are urging women and others to e-mail or call their senators and ask them to act fast so the bill can be ready for President-elect Obama’s signature the day he takes office.

"Our economy is crumbling, and we need fair-pay legislation now more than ever," Jocelyn Samuels of the National Women’s Law Center said in an e-mail to supporters. Seriously, it’s about time …