Pirate's Cove

Even though he cannot run for his office again, he’s still trying to buy votes, much like with his recent community college schtick. Let’s face it, this is also really about attempting to gin up a fight with the GOP controlled Congress. Obama’s first inclination is always to create strife. It’s who he is. Let’s also face the fact that he has not said how he’ll pay for either program

(AP) Renewing a push for paid leave for workers, President Barack Obama on Thursday will call on Congress, states and cities to pass measures to allow millions of workers to earn up to a week of paid sick time a year, the White House said.

Personally, I approve of companies offering paid sick days. Some companies do, some don’t. I rarely get sick, and rarely take sick days. Never have. There are several good points towards offering them, including reducing turnover. It’s not cheap to hire and train an employee. Furthermore, offering paid sick days creates an incentive for sick employees to stay home, rather than coming to work and infecting coworkers and customers. Heck, there are times they still come in.

That said, it is not the government’s job to mandate that companies offer sick days. It is a wise policy, IMO, to offer at least a few days to protect your employees and customers, but not the government’s job.

He’ll also ask Congress for more than $2 billion in new spending to encourage states to create paid family and medical leave programs.

Hey, sure, why not, it’s not like with have a large deficit and $18 trillion in debt or something. How’s he going to pay for it?

Details on how Obama would raise the $2 billion to help states will be released in the president’s budget proposal next month, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Wednesday.

Anyone think the answer will be “raise taxes on The Rich”?

Obama wants Congress to pass legislation that has been sponsored since 2005 by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., to allow workers to earn up to seven days, or 56 hours, of paid sick leave to care for themselves or a sick family member, obtain preventive care or deal with domestic violence. Under the Healthy Families Act, workers would earn an hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours they work. Employers that already provide paid sick time would not have to change their policies as long as the time earned can be used for the same purposes.

Couldn’t the Democrat controlled Congress have done that in 2009-2010?

Obama will also outline ways to broaden access to paid family and medical leave. Under the 1993 federal Family and Medical Leave Act, workers may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off without losing their job to care for a new child, recover from an illness or care for an ill family member. The White House says most families cannot afford such long stretches of time off without pay.

So, he wants companies to pay people when they aren’t actually working for long stretches? Shocking! Don’t expect him to actually care, this is just another attempt to create a wedge issue. It’s what he does.

Crossed at Right Wing News.