Fwd: End paid family leave?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Sandra VanderVen, Fuse Washington" <info@fusewashington.org>
Date: Jan 28, 2013 5:13 PM
Subject: End paid family leave?
To: <rferrisx@gmail.com>
Cc:

Why are Rodney Tom and his Republican Majority trying to overturn our state's paid family leave law? Our senators should be focused on closing unfair tax loopholes and raising revenue to support working families, not gutting services that our communities rely on. Tell your senator to support and fund Washington's paid family leave law! Send a Message! Dear Friend, Can you imagine having a child and returning to work a week or two later? Every parent knows the birth of a child is one of the most important and challenging experiences in life. Being able to spend even a few weeks at home to care for a newborn pays short and long–term dividends for both parents and children. So why are Rodney Tom and his Republican Majority trying to overturn our state's paid family leave law? Washington's Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act helps babies start off healthy and happy.1 It allows parents to take up to five weeks of paid time off work after the birth of a child. Paid leave is good for babies, good for parents, and good for our economy.2 Since the family leave law was passed in 2007, conservatives in Olympia have successfully blocked funding for it. Now that Republicans control our Senate, Rodney Tom and ten conservatives are trying to end paid family leave altogether. Our senators should work to strengthen families, not undercut their support just when they need it most. A Senate committee is considering the paid family leave repeal today, and they need to hear from us. Click below to tell your senator to support and fund our paid family leave law! http://fusewa.me/FundFMLIA New parents should be able to stay home with a newborn. It sounds simple, but more than half of new mothers have no paid time off work, and many cannot afford to take unpaid time off.3 Our state passed the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act to bridge that gap and ensure that all families get a strong start. Forcing new parents to go back to work prematurely means reduced bonding time, limited breast–feeding, and more challenges to scheduling immunizations and other doctor's visits. Paid time at home has also been shown to reduce the chances that a new family slips into poverty.4 Our senators should be focused on closing unfair tax loopholes and raising revenue to support working families, not gutting services that our communities rely on. Tell your senator to support and fund Washington's paid family leave law! http://fusewa.me/FundFMLIA/ Thanks for all that you do, Sandra and the entire team at Fuse http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5159.pdf http://waworkandfamily.org/2013/01/24/wa-senate-conservatives-introduce-bill-to-repeal-protections-for-parents-newborns/ http://waworkandfamily.org/2013/01/24/wa-senate-conservatives-introduce-bill-to-repeal-protections-for-parents-newborns/ http://waworkandfamily.org/2013/01/24/wa-senate-conservatives-introduce-bill-to-repeal-protections-for-parents-newborns/ Want to support our work? Become a monthly donor! Fuse is the state's largest progressive organization - people creating change online, on the ground, and on issues that matter. Together for Progress Join us at fusewashington.org

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