Susan Bysiewicz attacks Joe Markley’s record on women’s issues

Susan Bysiewicz, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, criticized her Republican opponent, state Sen. Joe Markley, over women’s economic opportunity and empowerment issues.

Bysiewicz organized a news conference outside the State Capitol in Hartford, and was joined by more than 20 Democraticleaning activists, legislators and candidates, some especially critical of Markley’s record.

“On one hand, you have Susan Bysiewicz, an accomplished public servant with a record of fighting for all of us on everything from voting rights to health care,” said Lindsay Farrell, executive director of the Working Families Party. “On the other, you have state Sen. Joe Markley, yet another misogynist who is hellbent on controlling women, making us less safe, paying us less, and setting us back decades. He’s consistently voted against minimum wage increases, against paid sick days, which support women and their families.”

Markley did not return requests for comment.

Bysiewicz said if elected, she and Lamont will work to protect the availability of affordable health care, child care and early childhood education; protect a woman’s right to choose; raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour; and support the growth of women-owned small businesses.

“We need to make sure our economy works for everyone, and that means making common-sense changes like paying people the same amount for the same job, regardless of gender,” Bysiewicz said in a statement.

Sarah Croucher, the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, said birth control, abortion, and paid family medical leave are important.

“These issues, however, are all in danger by ideological extremists like Joe Markley,” she said in the statement, issued by Bysiewicz’s campaign. “He’s one of the most extreme state legislators at the state capitol.”

Cindy Wolfe-Boynton, the president of the Connecticut chapter of the National Organization for Women, criticized Markley for his vote against payequity legislation, requiring men and women get paid equally for the same jobs.

“Equal pay for equal work: It’s right, it’s essential, it’s time, and it’s just,” she said.