Buyers' remorse is not uncommon after a big purchase. Even worse is the sinking feeling when the credit card bill comes due and you know you can't afford it. If you're lucky you can take it back -- no harm, no foul. And if you can, it's the responsible thing to do.
So it is with our state's unfunded and unimplemented paid family leave mandate. This morning, Rep. Cary Condotta (R-Wenatchee) introduced HB 1160, which would repeal the troubled 2007 law. This bill promotes AWB's Legislative Objective on paid family leave.
Removing paid family leave from the books is the responsible move for three reasons.
First, the money's not there. This program, which has a multi-million dollar projected start-up cost and tens of millions in ongoing administrative and benefit costs, couldn't muster support for funding when financial times were much better. Now there are about six billion reasons why this program can't go forward.
Second, the money's not there. Some program advocates may propose a new tax on employees or employers (or both) this session to fund this program. But every dollar a small business has to pay for this program, either in taxes or administration, is a dollar not spent on keeping and creating jobs. And every dollar an employee has to pay for this program is a dollar not spent on necessities or put back in the economy.
Third, there's a better way. Washington already has at least four leave laws on the books that touch upon time off, and even paid time off, for family and medical reasons. The key is to make better use of existing leave laws, and support and incentivize employers' efforts to help employees when the need for paid time off arises.
AWB's position on paid family leave has always recognized the employees' need for time off and the challenges inherent in balancing work and family. We've supported flexibilty, incentives for paid leave, and streamlining existing leave laws. But the unfunded mandate of paid family leave has now become a check the state can't afford to cash.
HB 1160 offers a chance to take it back.
