First hearing for family leave on Tuesday!

The first committee hearing on paid family and medical leave is next week!

Come down to Olympia next Tuesday morning to watch the action unfold, or watch the hearing live on TVW. Check your local listings, or visit: http://www.tvw.org/.

A full house will tell legislators how important this program is to our families!

When: Tuesday, February 10th, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Where: House Hearing Rm B, John L. O’Brien Building, Olympia, WA

Parking is very limited, so arrive early and carpool if you can.

Directions: http://www.ga.wa.gov/visitor/direction.htm
Capitol Map: http://www.ga.wa.gov/images/campus-map.pdf

Hope to see you there!

Family and medical leave insurance bill introduced in Washington Senate

The Washington State Senate now has family and medical leave legislation of its own to consider in the upcoming legislative session. The bill is similar – but not identical – to a House measure introduced earlier this week.

Senate Bill 5679 is sponsored by: Senators Keiser, Kohl-Welles, McDermott, Murray, Pridemore, Kauffman, Hatfield, Franklin, McAuliffe, Kline, and Oemig.

Fee on workers may pay for leave

In 2007, jubilant Democratic lawmakers  $250-a-week stipends to workers who take unpaid time off to bond with a new baby.

Two years later, without paying anyone a dime, paid family medical leave has stalled. Gov. Chris Gregoire halted computer work on it to save money. And no one agrees how to pay for the estimated $40 million annual payout.

But they may be getting closer. Lawmakers in the House and Senate are now calling for a 2-cents-an-hour fee on all workers, with the money used to pay the stipend.

And the benefit wouldn’t just apply to parents. Anyone with a sick family member could use it.

More: Spokane Spokesman-Review