Will family leave repeal get crammed into budget deal?

marilyn watkins
Marilyn Watkins, Policy Director at the Economic Opportunity Institute

Washington’s legislature is moving into its final phase focused on reconciling 3 different versions of the 2013-2015 budget before the April 28 adjournment date. And there’s still a threat that the Senate majority will try to cram repeal of family and medical leave insurance into the take home deal.

The House and Governor should stand firm in rejecting repeal or any other action rolling back our family leave insurance law.

Earlier in the session, the Senate majority tried to pass three bills that would have rolled back protections for Washington’s working families – repealing family and medical leave insurance, prohibiting local paid sick leave laws, and limiting the scope of local sick leave laws. Thanks to a strong showing of public support for expanding access to paid leave, rather than restricting it, all three anti-family bills died.

Then last week, Senators Braun and Holmquist-Newbry reintroduced the family leave repeal bill with a new number, Senate Bill 5903. That bill quickly passed through the Ways and Means Committee, and on April 16 was passed by the Rules Committee. The fiscal note for SB 5903 claims savings in the 2013-2015 biennium of $13.6 million. That’s the amount the Employment Security Department has projected it would need to prepare for paying family leave benefits now slated to begin during the 2015-2017 biennium.

But no legislation is necessary this year in order to “save” that money. The legislature can simply not make the appropriation.

Back in 2007, the legislature passed family and medical leave insurance policy, but because of the recession and budget crisis, postponed implementation until 2015. Next year, the legislature should adopt the improved policy and funding plan put forward by Senator Keiser and Representative Green (and 22 of their colleagues) and supported by a broad coalition of community members, workers, health professionals, and business owners.

Meanwhile, the Senate majority should keep its hands off family leave.

Conservatives in Washington Senate take another swipe at working families

john braun
WA state Senator John Braun is (again) trying to repeal paid maternity leave

Cross-posted from the Economic Opportunity Institute:

Washington’s working families are again under attack from Republicans in the Washington state Senate, who have introduced a second bill to repeal family and medical leave insurance, and scheduled it for a hearing this afternoon. Earlier in the legislative session, Senators Braun, Holmquist-Newbry, Tom, and others introduced an identical bill, which failed to pass out of the Senate on time. This “new” bill is simply an attempt to use the health and economic security of working families as a chip in the budget negotiation process.

At this point in the legislative session, only bills necessary to the 2013-15 budget can be considered. Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI), which became law in 2007, is scheduled to begin during the 2015-17 biennium. The state is under no obligation to spend money in the coming biennium, so this new bill (SB 5903) – which is not necessary to implement the 2013-15 budget – should be not be considered during this budget negotiation.

Investing in our youngest children and supporting families caring for aging parents will save the state money, improve education and health outcomes, and bolster our economy. Both employers and employees agree family and medical leave insurance is an important investment for healthy workers and thriving businesses.

Earlier this year, legislators heard testimony from small business owners like Don Orange from Vancouver and Consuelo Gomez from Bellevue whose businesses and employees would benefit from FMLI. They also heard testimony from a father whose little daughter spent the first 6 months of her life at Children’s Hospital, and from a woman whose father is postponing the surgery he needs to save his kidneys because he doesn’t have enough sick time saved up.

At the same time our legislature considers dismantling important protections for working families, President Obama has issued a budget that includes funding for state family and medical leave insurance programs. The President’s newly released 2014 budget sets aside $5 million to fund start-up of state programs. The budget also includes money to strengthen enforcement of federal family leave laws.

Washington’s legislature is moving in the wrong direction for our families and our economy. Repealing family and medical leave insurance would be a step back for all Washingtonian’s – and will not relieve any of the budget we are facing this biennium.