Paid family leave is an enormously popular idea in the United States and a policy that works well in many other nations. But just six states—California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington—and the District of Columbia have passed paid family leave, and Republicans continue to block it at the federal level. That means that the action is going to have to be at the state level—and there, paid family leave has momentum.
NPR reports that “This year, about two dozen states are expected to consider proposals that offer paid leave for workers who are ill, or taking care of new or elderly family members.” That’s not just in solidly blue states, though in states with divided government, the proposals are likely to be significantly watered down. New Hampshire’s Democratic legislature has passed a family leave bill, for instance, but the state’s Republican governor is demanding major compromises, essentially looking to gut the policy while getting credit for signing something; similarly, in Minnesota, state Senate Republicans are looking to weaken a Democratic bill.
Still, with just 13 to 14 percent of American workers having access to paid family leave, even watered-down, inadequate paid family leave laws would be an improvement—and maybe a foot in the door allowing for improvements later. Because unfortunately it will take time to win enough power in Washington, D.C., to get this thing done at the federal level.