Real Family Values – Paid Leave in the Bay State and Beyond

Just like on children’s health care, it is often the States who have led the way on family leave, creating programs and identifying funding streams (in the case of children’s health care using tobacco taxes to fund expansions in coverage) and in turn generating momentum for federal assistance.  Its worked for children’s health (although Bush vetoed its expansion with McSame’s support this year) – and it could work for paid leave as well.  With Obama in the White House – States will have a partner in their efforts to support families struggling to pay the bills while taking care of a newborn baby or sick family member.

And States are moving forward already.  California just marked the fourth anniversary of its Paid Family Leave program – the nation’s first.  Washington State enacted a paid leave law in May 2007 and in June of this year, New Jersey Governor John Corzine signed a paid leave bill into law as well.  Three down – 47 to go.  And what about Massachusetts being number four?

If my memory serves me, former Senate President Travaglini promoted a paid leave bill a few years back – it passed the Senate I think but never went anywhere in the House.  State Senator Karen Spilka of Framingham/Ashland filed a bill again this session.  The business lobby has never been a big fan so the bill has stalled.  

But how about another push next year?  While it was always likely that Romney would have vetoed the bill, the converse is true with Governor Patrick.  I know the Governor’s agenda for education, crime and property tax relief – not to mention implementing and paying for the universal health care law – will be pretty full next year.  But paid leave is an issue whose time has come and a push from the Governor would mean a great deal.  

The Spilka Bill is modeled after laws adopted in other states – where workers are provided a maximum of six weeks of partial pay each year while taking time off for a newborn baby, newly adopted child or to care for an ill parent.  The payments are made from State Disability Insurance programs which most workers pay into.  Thus, its entirely employee-funded.  Low and middle-income working parents who can’t afford to take unpaid leave will be the chief beneficiaries.  Compared to the leave benefits in European countries (in Britain you get 9 months paid leave – and that will grow to a year) its meager but it represents real progress here.  

And if Massachusetts can make this law – and then other States follow (and hopefully we’ll put a real friend of families in the White House) paid leave, like health care before it, can rise up the national agenda and generate the momentum needed to win federal assistance.  

Picking a working mom as a vice presidential nominee doesn’t by itself improve the lives of working women.  Policy change is needed.  Obama proposes it – McCain opposes it.  Governor Patrick and Massachusetts can help lead the way on paid leave and lay the groundwork for a federal program under President Obama.  That’s real family values at work and that is what this campaign should be about.

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