Paid Family and Medical Leave proposal passes first committee
SANTA FE, N.M. – It only took five days for a new paid family and medical leave proposal to leap past the starting line in the Roundhouse, but the battle is only just beginning. Now, we have a better idea where business leaders are drawing the line.
“There’s definitely a way to craft legislation that would support businesses as well as families. Unfortunately, the bill that’s being discussed in committee does miss that mark,” said Alison Riley, a public policy director for the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce.
Riley was just one of the dozens of New Mexicans who spoke out against House Bill 11 Monday morning. It’s a new proposal to establish a state-run paid family and medical leave program in New Mexico.
“This is a trend, because I think employers, the states and employees recognize it benefits everyone,” said state Rep. Christine Chandler.
Most business leaders agree it’s a good idea on the surface, but the devil is in the details. There are three big issues they wanted to address, including the mandatory contributions from employees and employers – which they say is just another tax – the ongoing issues with labor shortages – which they argue will only get worse when employees take leave – and ongoing staffing issues at the Department of Workforce Solutions – which would manage the program.
“Employees can’t afford a tax on already stretched thin wages. And from what we’re seeing, employers are already working with their employees when they welcome a child into the world, or they have to step away to care for family,” said Riley.
Not all business owners are against the bill.
“I get the fears that small businesses have, but we shouldn’t be nickel and diming off the backs of our employees,” said Deborah Condit, owner of Books on the Bosque.
Condit says a paid family and medical leave program would be a game changer for her nine employees.
“Corporations sometimes have that put in place where they’re able to provide that for their employees, but we don’t. I cannot afford that,” Condit said.
She says she could afford the $32 a month to participate in a state-run program.
“It’s just like one more book that I would have to sell and to make sure every month and to make sure that my employees are going to be taken care of,” said Condit.
The House Health and Human Services Committee ultimately approved the proposal on a 6-4 vote, with all the Republicans voting against the idea, and it’s a likely trend we’ll see as this bill moves forward.