Gov. Whitmer says 'it's time' for guaranteed paid family, medical leave in Michigan

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called on Michigan lawmakers Wednesday to give all workers in the state “breathing room” by creating a new program to offer them paid family and medical leave, a proposal that some worry could amount to a tax on Michigan’s businesses and workers.

Whitmer, a Democrat who is increasingly gaining national political attention, made guaranteed paid time off for workers after the birth of a child or for health reasons a key policy priority in a speech about her legislative goals for the remainder of 2023.

ReallyActuallyFrankenstein,

Conservative thought leaders getting their winning narrative ready: “Big government is trying to take away your right to work while sick or in labor!”

olympicyes,

I disagree with this law proposal only because I think this should be a federal law instead of a state law. I’d be concerned that businesses would leave the state instead of pay family leave. It’s a disgrace that the USS is the only industrialized country that doesn’t offer this. It’s considered inhumare to take a puppy away from its mother before 8 weeks but humans only need 2 weeks?

newthrowaway20,

I agree it should be a federal law, but I also believe starting at the state level gives us a better chance to get it at the federal level.

olympicyes,

Sometimes it works. I guess the precedent is the Massachusetts health care law and Obamacare. I’d love to see anti-abortion republicans railing against mothers staying with their babies.

OldWoodFrame,

NY did a pretty good job with theirs, it’s a separate but income-based tax. Everyone pays in and everyone gets it, with a cap (67% of prior income with a cap of $1100/wk) for up to 12 weeks. This ensures the payment in and utilization are both progressive. And employers can top up to 100% of income as a benefit if they so choose.

markr,

Could Joe Biden just step aside and let her run instead? Please?

LastYearsPumpkin,

There’s a a few governors that would do well as president, but I’d like to keep them in their current position for a while so they can clean up their states before moving on to run for president. The president, while powerful, can’t do much with a largely divided legislature.

Currently, these governors are doing so much good because in the last election, they were able to build a state government that largely wants to actually help the state and fix problems. If they didn’t have the support of the other branches, they’d just be trying to “compromise” over and over and never actually achieving anything.

cowfodder,

As a resident of Michigan I selfishly don’t want to let her go, but the way she’s doing things I fully expect her to run in 2028. I think she’d be a fantastic president!

kibiz0r,

Big Gretch!!!

TransplantedSconie,

Millionaire Tax like Massachusetts did.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Should be national. Tax the rich at a higher rate, close the loopholes.

Sadly, that will likely never happen.

TransplantedSconie,

Vote progressive and it will.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

With all the gerrymandering and court-packing going on, I’m not so sure.

TransplantedSconie,

They said the same thing about michigan two years ago. And look at them now

Edit: And wisconsin is about to be fixed as well

TinyPizza,
@TinyPizza@kbin.social avatar

Michigan only changed due to a citizens ballot initiative that created a independent board to redistrict the state. Not every state has that mechanism. I also wouldn't characterize either the Governor or a large portion of our Dems as progressives, though they certainly do love to use language that leads many to think that.

markr,

So not voting will change that?

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Absolutely not. Please vote.

LucidNightmare,

My thought process has always been: “Well, it may not do anything, but at least I can say I tried.”

I am also apathetic about current events and the direction our entire world seems to be going down, but I will at least try to put in the minimum effort to make this shitty place just a little bit more bearable for the next generation.

agent_flounder,
@agent_flounder@lemmy.one avatar

The only answer is for decent people to get involved in politics locally.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I hope they do. I’m just not optimistic with the way Republicans have rigged everything that we’ll see the wealthy pay more taxes and the tax loopholes closed on a national level.

agent_flounder,
@agent_flounder@lemmy.one avatar

The other issue is a regular joe can’t bankroll their own run. But hopefully it is less expensive at the local level.

BarrierWithAshes,
@BarrierWithAshes@kbin.social avatar

Lol, which progressive? AOC? Bernie? Both are jokes. Nobody in the 'squad' even has principles anymore except maybe Ilhan.

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