A little family leave is better than none
Politicians urging compromise often argue the perfect should not be the enemy of the good, and that is a good argument for the parental leave policy President Donald Trump endorsed in his State of the Union address.
Parents know the challenge of caring for a newborn or a newly adopted child. Scientists advise that children need intensive attention from both parents early in life to grow up physically and emotionally healthy.
Raising a family, though, also requires money. More than 72 percent of mothers and 93 percent of fathers work full time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most will have to take vacation days, sick leave or leave without pay to stay at home with their child.
The United States is the only wealthy country that does not have national rules to guarantee a worker’s right to paid time off. Most governments respect that strong families underpin successful economies, and so do most Americans.
About two-thirds of voters believe workers should have access to paid leave to care for a new child or a family medical crisis, according to polling by Pew Research Center. The debate is over how to pay for it.
Trump has talked about a federal paid family leave law since his election, and his daughter Ivanka Trump carries the flag for his administration. In December, Trump guaranteed up to 12 weeks of paid leave for 2.1 million civilian federal workers if they have a new child.
Expanding that benefit to all Americans has proven more challenging. Democratic proposals range from requiring employers to cover the cost to spending federal tax dollars to cover the worker’s wages. But Republicans oppose any additional burden on employers or expansion of government programs.
Two weeks ago, Trump endorsed a bipartisan bill that would give Americans a chance to collect a portion of their future child tax credits early so that they can take time from work. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced the bill.
The bill places no burden on employers or the federal budget; it only allows workers to take a $5,000 credit in the first year they have a child and then collect $500 less in child tax credits over the next decade.
Critics complain that allowing
parents to borrow against their future tax credits only shifts money around. The bill still allows employers to fire a worker if they want to take unpaid time off to spend with their child.
What Sinema and Cassidy propose, therefore, is not really a paid parental leave law; it guarantees neither pay nor leave. But the authors say it’s the best they can do right now.
“This policy must be fiscally sustainable and not bury taxpayers in even more red ink,” Cassidy said.
Sinema insisted the bill is only a beginning.
“Our bipartisan bill does not raise taxes or harm Social Security, and represents an important first step, offering parents a new option to finance time off of work or help pay for childcare,” she said.
Despite these essential facts, Sinema was the only Democrat to stand and applaud when Trump called for a paid parental leave law. Her Democratic colleagues have bigger politics on their minds.
Because Trump and his daughter promised action on paid family leave three years ago, Democrats want to deny him a campaign talking point. Speaker Nancy Pelosi will not allow the bill through the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.
Such political posturing is disappointing, even if entirely predictable. But voters will have a chance this November to voice their opinion about whether Americans deserve a robust paid parental and family leave law. The consequences are potentially staggering.
A paid leave law would help address the fact that Texas women earn 81 cents on each dollar a man makes. Experts often point to women leaving the workforce for their children or spending more time with them as reasons for unequal pay.
Leave would also allow men to form stronger bonds with their children. A happier home life always boosts productivity at work, which is why many large employers already grant generous family leave programs.
Eight states are already mandating paid family leave with innovative financing mechanisms. According to a study published last year by Denver University researchers, the new Colorado program will only cost workers and employers 0.34 percent of current wages.
The debate, then, is not really about the money. The problem is convincing politicians that paid leave is a good idea. The Cassidy Sinema Parental Leave Plan should be an excellent first step.