Paid Family Leave Law Now a "Bet," "Uncertain"

Over the weekend and this morning, several papers ran interesting stories about the mounting troubles facing one of the most puzzling workplace regulations our state has enacted in recent years -- the paid family leave program.  The biggest puzzle is how to fund it, i.e., put the "paid" in paid family leave.

Rachel LaCorte's story for the AP included several notable quotables, including:

"It's going to be problematic," said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam. "I think there is still some difference of opinion of how it ought to be paid for."  ...

... They are back to the drawing board," Gregoire said. ...

... "We were all frustrated about that," said Rick Bender, president of the Washington State Labor Council, which was among the groups pushing for the paid family leave program. "We thought for sure they could come up with some kind of plan."

If a tax goes to voters, Bender also wants a vote on expanding the program to cover workers who need to take time off to care for a sick relative or deal with their own health problem.

"The only way the public will support it, according to our polling, is if it is a broad-based program," Bender said....

... Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said that she thinks a ballot measure is likely, and that realistically, benefits may be delayed.

"This is forward-thinking social policy where Washington state is on the cutting edge," Brown said. "It may take us a long time to get there, but I don't doubt that we will." ...

... Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, co-sponsor of the measure and co-chairwoman of the task force, said lawmakers are looking at a number of ways to pay for the program, but wasn't ready to disclose what they were yet.

"We all know what the timeline is and we are going to be working hard to make sure that we meet that timeline," she said. "This is a judicious route we are taking." ...

But of course there are other views:

"You don't make empty promises to citizens and create a new program in statute without knowing the most basic components _ how much it's going to cost, who's going to pay for it," said Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake.

Much to think about here:  different conclusions about the feasibility of moving ahead with the program being drawn by legislative leaders and co-sponsors of the program; union talk of a broader (and more expensive, controversial) ballot measure; and considered but undisclosed ideas to pay for the program.

The Olympian's Adam Wilson looked more specifically at the money in this year's budget to start the computer system for paid family leave.  But his story starts out " State agencies are preparing to launch two computer projects that might never be used."  Talk about a bridge to nowhere.

Finally, the AP's Dave Ammons simply puts the paid family leave program at the top of his list of 10 "very expensive big ticket items" the Legislature kicked ahead until after the elections.