Why do some Washington wizards refuse to wave their magic wands? Why, they could make our world … wonderful!
On CNN’s State of the Union program over the weekend, guest host Dana Bash spoke with Sen. Joni Ernst (R‑Iowa) about her legislation to “give parents paid leave to be with their child in exchange for delaying retirement up to six months.”
“So, the question is,” Bash queried the senator, “if paid leave is so important, why would it require somebody to … lengthen their time working, to give up six months of retirement, in order to pay to have a child and work?”
In other words, why should employees not be awarded paid leave from their jobs whenever they want it? Without having to make any trade-off with their employer. Is Sen. Ernst some kind of cheapskate?
“[T]he plan that I have put forward … is a voluntary program,” she noted. “It is not a mandatory program.”
Not mandatory? She must be relatively new to Washington.
“And that way, a parent can decide what is right for them,” explained Ernst.
Time off taken now would be traded for equal time working later; it would not be simply forced upon employers to provide a freebie for employees.
“But what we don’t want to do is impose an additional tax,” the rookie senator continued. “And I have heard from small business owners all across Iowa that say, if there was an additional tax, I wouldn’t be able to have as many workers or so forth.”
Voluntary federal programs … next thing we know freedom may break out.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
Photo credit: New America
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