Close Close
Popular Financial Topics Discover relevant content from across the suite of ALM legal publications From the Industry More content from ThinkAdvisor and select sponsors Investment Advisor Issue Gallery Read digital editions of Investment Advisor Magazine Tax Facts Get clear, current, and reliable answers to pressing tax questions
Luminaries Awards
ThinkAdvisor

Life Health > Health Insurance

Every Republican running for president votes against paid family leave

X
Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

(Bloomberg Politics) — Not every budget vote in Thursday’s Senate marathon is particularly telling. The vote on Senate Amendment 798, one of Washington Sen. Patty Murray’s amendments, is an exception.

Titled the Deficit-Neutral Reserve Fund for Legislation to Allow Americans to Earn Paid Sick Time, Murray’s amendment would devote funds “relating to efforts to improve workplace benefits and reduce health care costs, which may include measures to allow Americans to earn paid sick time to address their own health needs and the health needs of their families, and to promote equal employment opportunities.”

Unlike most of the Democrat’s amendments, this one was agreed to, picking up every member of Murray’s party and 16 Republicans. From the Republican side: New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, and Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey.

See also: Obama puts paid leave in spotlight

All are up for re-election in 2016; Ayotte, Kirk, Portman, and Toomey are up in states that voted twice for President Barack Obama. Of Republicans up in 2010, the senators from reliable red states were “no” votes, including Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, and Louisiana Sen. David Vitter.

Of the senators being challenged by Democrats, only Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson voted against Murray’s bill.

Also singing in the Republican “no” chorus: All of the senators considering 2016 presidential bids. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio all opposed the Murray amendment.

Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner for the 2016 Democratic nomination, came out last year for paid family leave.

See also: AARP: Republicans back caregiver support


NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.