Kamala Harris unveils family leave plan that includes six months paid time off

by DCG

From Daily MailKamala Harris revealed her plan this week to give new parents six months off – by far the most ambitious plan of any other 2020 candidate.

Her federal-level family leave plan would also offer six months of paid time off for parents taking care of a sick child or caregivers taking care of a sick relative.

‘Guaranteeing six months of paid leave will bring us closer to economic justice for workers and ensures newborn children or children who are sick can get the care they need from a parent without thrusting the family into upheaval,’ the California senator said in a statement announcing her proposal.

Harris’ aggressive family leave proposal is part of her ‘Children’s Agenda,’ which overall aims to improve chances for children in low-income families. It also includes benefits like free preschool for low-to-moderate-income families and childcare subsidies.

Most other Democratic candidates’ plans include a 12-week paid leave period for parents after having a child. Some of the most progressive blue states have already passed laws that offer up to 12 weeks for family leave, but sometimes the included benefits don’t match up to the individual’s usual compensation.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who dropped out of the race at the end of August, proposed the Family Act, which was endorsed by three front-runner candidates. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg are all behind the proposal that would provide three months of paid leave.

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Up to 66 per cent of each parent’s income would be covered under this plan by an overall increase to payroll taxes. Both new parents would be able to use the family leave benefit whenever they choose.

Harris’ plan would give 100 per cent of families’ income to those earning less than $75,000 for the full six months. She did not clarify in her proposal what the percentage would be for those with higher incomes.

Like Gillibrand’s plan, the cost of Harris’ would also come from raising payroll taxes – but would also come from raising corporate taxes and income taxes on the top 1 per cent.

Six months of paid leave would be expensive, but Harris doesn’t outline how much taxes would go up to help pay for it.

This issue, however, isn’t partisan. In February, Donald Trump’s daughter and Senior Advisor Ivanka Trump went to Capitol Hill to appeal with republican lawmakers to push for a federal paid family leave program.

Trump acknowledged senator’s efforts at the time and said, ‘It’s encouraging to see members on both sides of the aisle putting forward paid family leave proposals.’

DCG

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