Arizona Republicans’ War on Women and Workers

by David Safier

Arizona Republicans are hitting women's rights and workers' wages hard.

First is the bill proposing to let secular companies refuse to provide contraception as part of their health insurance packages. The Star has an editorial blasting the bill. The headline gets it right:

Contraception bill is about control, not freedom

The bill is about disempowering women, turning the control of their reproductive rights over to others.

Next is the proposed initiative to roll back the minimum wage Arizonans voted into law in 2006 by an almost 2-1 margin. The 2006 initiative assured that minimum wage would keep pace with inflation. The new initiative isn't targeted at unions like so many of the Republican anti-worker bills. It goes after workers who are getting the lowest wage the law allows, most of whom have no representation whatever.

Let's hope Arizonans wake up and realize Republicans have no love of rights for women or reasonable wages for workers. If people vote Republican, they can expect more of the same. If they want respect and empowerment for women, and workers no matter their gender, they have to vote in more Democrats.