"Philadelphia bars employers from requesting salary history; Comcast threatens legal action", 24 Jan 2017

Despite a threat from cable giant Comcast to take legal action, Philadelphia has banned employers from asking potential hires to provide their salary history, a move supporters say is a step toward closing the wage gap between men and women...Mayor Jim Kenney signed the measure Monday and said he's confident the bill can withstand legal challenges...The City Council unanimously passed the ordinance in December.  Supporters contend that since women have historically been paid less than men, the practice of asking for a salary history can help perpetuate a cycle of lower salaries for women...City Councilman Bill Greenlee...said he was inspired by a Massachusetts pay equity bill...Similar salary history bans have been introduced in New Jersey, and the city councils of New York City and Pittsburgh as well as the District of Columbia...Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton...has sponsored similar legislation in Congress...