Perino: Equal pay issue is a 'distraction' for just '48 hours'

Former White House press secretary Dana Perino felt on Fox and Friends Monday morning that the discussion around the Paycheck Fairness Act for equal pay for women is a "distraction" for likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney to discuss.

The legislation, which Senate Democrats will soon bring up for a vote, would ban employers from punishing workers for bringing up wage disparity and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963. But Republicans, including Perino, are thinking the Democrats are using the bill for solely political purposes.

"Well, it's just yet another distraction of dealing with the major financial issues that the country should be dealing with," Perino said. "This is not a job creator. There is an argument that this could actually hurt women."

"But can that play politically against Mitt Romney ?" asked Fox and Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade.

"Maybe for 48 hours," Perino replied. "This is not going to be a long running thing."

"But on this, won't Romney have to take a stand?" co-host Gretchen Carlson asked. "He'll have to say, 'I'm in favor of the fairness act or not?'"

"I don't think presidential candidates should get drawn into every single issue," Perino replied.

Romney's campaign, who awkwardly took a while to support the Lily Ledbetter Act, has not indicated yet whether the former Massachusetts governor backs the Paycheck Fairness Act.

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Romney 14 points behind President Barack Obama among women voters.

WATCH: Video from Fox News, which was broadcast on April 30, 2012.

Additional reporting done by David Edwards.