Washington Family Leave Act

Washington Family Leave Act

In 2007, Washington passed a paid family leave law that allows for 5 weeks of paid time off to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. However, the legislation did not include a funding mechanism and implementation of the program has been postponed until 2015.

Cry Wolf Quotes

When the cost of employment goes up, you lose your job. If you don't have a job, family leave insurance doesn't help you.

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State Senator Cheryl Pflug (R). The Associated Press State & Local Wire.

Most businesses would tell you that they presently take care of their employees. They don't need government telling them how to do it.

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Gary Chandler, vice president for governmental affairs at the Association of Washington Business. The Associated Press State & Local Wire.

It's very possible the paid leave will only be used by the prosperous, who can afford to go without any pay for five weeks or more. In essence, this program could be funded by the poor working-class folks to give the more prosperous a benefit. Democrats know this program won't be used by those that need it the most.

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Washington House Republican Bruce Chandler, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.