Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT THE STATE SENATE. JENNIFER: WMUR POLITICAL DIRECTOR ADAM SEXTON IS IN CONCORD WITH THE RESULTS OF TODAY’S VOTE. ADAM: DEMOCRATS WON A LEGISLATIVE BATTLE OVER PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE THURSDAY , ADVANCING THEIR BILL ON THE 13-10 VOTE. >> THIS WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES, THEY WON’T HAVE TO QUIT THEIR JOBS WHEN THERE’S A NEW BABY, OR AN AILING PARENT. ADAM SENATE BILL 1 REQUIRES : BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE OR SEND. 5% OF EMPLOYEES’ WEEKLY WAGES TO THE STATE, GENERATING MORE THAN A YEAR. $150 MILLION ONCE THE INSURANCE FUND IS UP AND RUNNING, EMPLOYEES WITH SIX MONTHS ON THE JOB WOULD BE ABLE TO USE UP TO 12 WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE. ON THE SENATE FLOOR REPUBLICANS PUSHED FOR AN ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION, AN IDEA THAT WAS REJECTED BY THE MAJORITY. >> IT’S AS IF THE ADVOCATES FOR THIS BILL ARE ADMITTING THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. ADMITTING THAT THEY DON’T KNOW IF THIS PROGRAM, THAT IS $156 MILLION, ANTICIPATED, AND $18 MILLION OF UP FRONT COSTS, THE DON’T KNOW IT IS SOLVENT. ADAM: REPUBLICANS CONTEND THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR PAID LEAVE IS BASICALLY AN INCOME TAX. >> YOU’RE GOING TO TAX EVERY SINGLE PAYROLL IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE WHETHER THEY USE IT OR NOT. ADAM DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING THAT : ARGUMENT A POLITICAL TALKING POINT, AND THEY SAY THE UP FRONT COSTS WILL GO DOWN IF A PRIVATE, THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR AGREES TO RUN THE PROGRAM. PLUS, THEY BELIEVE PROVIDING PAID FAMILY LEAVE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. >> HOW CAN YOU PUT A PRICE TAG ON BEING THERE WITH A FAMILY MEMBER WHO’S DYING? >> THAT VALUE IS GREATER THAN THE UP FR

Advertisement Democratic paid family leave plan passes NH Senate Republicans say funding for plan amounts to income tax Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A Democratic plan to establish paid family and medical leave in New Hampshire passed the state Senate on Thursday on a party-line vote.Senate Bill 1 advanced on a 13-10 vote. It would require businesses to provide family and medical leave insurance or send 0.5 percent of employees' weekly wages to the state, generating more than $150 million per year."This will make it easier for families," said Sen. Cindy Rosenwald, D-Nashua. "They won't have to quit their jobs when there's a new baby or an ailing parent or an injured spouse."Once the insurance fund is up and running, employees with six months on the job would be able to use up to 12 weeks of paid leave.On the Senate floor, Republicans pushed for an actuarial analysis to be included in the legislation, an idea that was rejected by the majority."It's as if the advocates for this bill are admitting they don't know what's going to happen," said Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro. "Admitting that they don't know if this program -- that is $156 million, anticipated, and $18 million of upfront costs -- they don't know that it's solvent."Republicans said the funding mechanism for the program is basically an income tax."You're going to tax every single payroll in the state of New Hampshire, whether they use it or not," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Morse.Democrats called that argument a political talking point and said that upfront costs will go down if a private, third-party administrator agrees to run the program. They said that providing paid family leave is the right thing to do."How can you put a price tag on being there with a family member who's dying?" said Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes. "That value is greater than the upfront costs of this insurance."Gov. Chris Sununu has proposed an alternative voluntary paid family leave plan in which Vermont and New Hampshire would work together to cover up to six weeks of leave.