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There's no debate, Paid Family Leave has issues
Majority thinks merits of costly entitlement
program shouldn't be publicly debated
The $100 million program
authorizing the Paid Family Leave entitlement benefit won't get the
public debate it deserves.
Rep. Cary
Condotta today was critical of the majority party's decision to
punt on bringing
House Bill 3305 to the floor for an open debate and proper public
discussion.
"This is ridiculous.
If this benefit is so wonderful and there is overwhelming support to
raise taxes to pay for the program, why not just clear the air in a
debate on legitimate concerns and funding of the program?" asked
Condotta, R-East Wenatchee. "Deciding to punt on the debate and simply
fund the the six-million-dollar start-up of the program in the shadows
of a huge budget deficit is not the accountability taxpayers deserve."
The paid leave entitlement
program will begin paying benefits in October 2009 to parents of newly
born or adopted children. The benefit will start out at $250 per week
for five weeks. The cost for
administration, implementation and benefits is estimated at more than
$100 million. Proponents of the measure have noted that this new program
will be the subject of future legislation as they work to expand the
reasons a person is eligible for the paid leave benefit.
"The push to expand the
program is exactly the reason we need to have an open debate on the
legislation and its funding. If the bill's sponsors refuse to fully fund
it, how can proponents possibly pay for the expanded version in the future?" asked Condotta.
Condotta is concerned
about the decision to bury the start-up costs of the program in the
budget without even so much as a whisper on the House floor. The looming
deficit next year, he said, makes it necessary that every expenditure is
put out for public viewing and an open debate.
"They were afraid to bring
the bill up because, frankly, they have a lot of questions they need to
answer, not the least of which being how they plan to pay for it," said
Condotta. "It's our job as a Legislature to deliberate every policy on
behalf of the citizens we represent. It's disappointing that the
majority party continues to hide the details of the program and its high
costs from the public."
The other major flaws in
the program aside, Condotta explained, he cannot support legislation that makes low-income
families and single mothers pay for an entitlement program for wealthy
couples.
"I have continued to
advocate for a means-test or other mechanism in the program to ensure
this benefit
actually gets to the people it was intended to serve," said Condotta.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
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