Minnesota Business Women Legislative Platform

• The passage of a bill in the Minnesota Legislature to place an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Minnesota
• The passage of the Alice Paul Equal Rights Amendment, without amendments, to the United States Constitution

Economic Equity
We support legislation that provides for:

• A fair and livable wage
• Affordable dependant care
• Equal opportunities in education
• Equal access to affordable housing
• Adequate retirement benefits and Social Security
• Programs for women re-entering the workforce
• The enforcement of all equal pay legislation

Health Care
We support legislation that provides for:

• Health care privacy
• Reproductive freedom as a right for all women
• Equality of access to affordable and adequate health care and service for all
• Increased funding for research of women's health issues
• Paid sick days as a universal labor standard

Violence and Exploitation of Women
We support legislation that provides for:

• Legal protections for victims of exploitation
• Adequate funding for education programs that teach violence prevention and anger management
• The establishment of additional shelters and aftercare programs
• Programs to inform victims of their legal rights
• Compensatory damage awards for victims of violence
• Jail time when appropriate

Civil Rights
We support legislation that:

• Ensures equal rights and remedies for women in all phases of their lives
• Continues affirmative action programs
• Eliminates sexual harassment against women