Maine lawmakers, advocates push for statewide paid family medical leave program
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Paid Family Leave Coalition on Tuesday launched a renewed push for a paid family and medical leave benefit as the Democratic-controlled Legislature takes up the issue.
Maine Sen. Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, and Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, who are leading the effort, said there has been no major progress at the federal level for three decades.
"Paid family and medical leave is an issue that is incredibly personal to me, as both a business owner and a young woman who hopes to one day start a family," said Daughtry. "In 30 years, there has been no major progress at the federal level to improve guaranteed time off. Thankfully, here in Maine, we’re not the kind of people who wait for D.C. politicians to take action. When something needs to be done, we get up and we act."
“This session, we have a momentous opportunity in the Legislature to enhance Maine’s care infrastructure,” said Cloutier. "A statewide paid family medical leave program will support our working families, make our economy more competitive and set Maine on a better path to improved health and well-being, both now and well into the future.”
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The bill is still being worked out, but it's expected to allow up to 12 weeks of benefit with up to 90% of pay, to be funded through a payroll tax divided by workers and employers. The Legislature’s Paid Family Leave Commission recommended that businesses with fewer than 15 workers be exempted from participation.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills wrote and signed a bill into law in 2019 that allowed earned sick days for workers, and a spokesperson said she's awaiting final recommendations from the commission for family leave.
“The governor understands the importance of paid family leave, and she believes it is important that discussions before the Legislature take into consideration the landscape of Maine’s economy and the perspective of Maine employers, particularly small businesses,” Ben Goodman, the governor's press secretary, said Tuesday.
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Rep. Joshua Morris, R-Turner, is the lead Republican on the Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services Committee. He issued a statement in opposition to the proposed family medical leave laws.
"Maine's small businesses and workers are already dealing with high inflation, labor, energy, food and healthcare costs," he said. "The Legislature should not add to their pain by passing a sweeping new tax that will make life more expensive for nearly every person in Maine. Augusta politicians shouldn't be forcing my constituents to pay higher taxes and I'll continue fighting their efforts to do so."
The federal government passed a law 30 years ago to make family leave an unpaid benefit. Across the country, 11 states including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island in New England have since put a paid family and medical leave benefit in place.
Across the country, 20% of private sector workers have access to paid family leave through an employer and 42% have access to short-term disability insurance, officials said. Nearly one in four mothers return to work within two weeks of giving birth, and one in five retirees leave the workforce earlier than expected to care for an ill family member, officials said.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine lawmakers, advocates push for paid family leave
