Family, medical leave act at center of hot debate (BushCo plans for FMLA)

[Pirate Smile]

By Stephanie Armour, USA TODAY
In early February, Patti Phillips sat by her daughter's bedside and watched as she pulled a blanket to under her chin. Her 18-year-old daughter was just going to go to sleep for a little while.

She never woke up.

Stephanie Phillips had a type of bone cancer, and Patti says she was able to be at her daughter's side the day she died — and throughout her years of treatment — because of a federal law that allows millions of Americans to take family leave without risking their jobs.

Patti Phillips with one of her late daughter's stuffed animals.

-snip-
But now, a pitched battle is brewing over that 1993 law, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The Department of Labor is expected to come out shortly with proposals for revising parts of the law; some labor and family groups, such as the National Partnership for Women & Families, fear those changes will cause hard-won family leave protections to be lost.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2005-05-25-medical-leave-usat_x.htm

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. This was one of Clinton's best deeds in office...

Personally, I don't know any woman of childbearing age, Republican, Democrat or other, who doesn't greatly appreciate this act.

This was true family values.

[Coexist]

7. That was his FIRST good deed

remember how the Republicans said that it would cause the closing of 20% of all small businesses because they couldn't afford such an unfair policy.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

8. To me, this was legislation representing true family values....

Wow, I miss the 90's. :cry:

[AlGore-08.com]

27. F.Y.I. In the Senate, Gore cosponsored an earlier version of FMLA

Which was vetoed by Smirk's Daddy. Clinton & Gore made signing the FMLA one of their biggest campaign promises in 1992, and it was the first act that Clinton signed as President.

This is another one of those ridiculous, long standing feuds against Clinton and Gore by the Smirk family.

[PartyPooper]

2. "Compassionate Conservatives" strike once again.

I wonder what the party of "family values" has up its sleeve this time.

:eyes:

[Deja Q]

13. Try eliminating the minimum wage.

After all, having 4 jobs just won't be enough. x(

[bling bling]

32. Having 4 jobs is fantastic! How uniquely American!!

Oh boy! And losing them all because you choose to stay home without pay to take care of dying family member is just super-duper! How uniquely American!!

:patriot:

[bluestateguy]

3. There is really a very simple solution to this

Tell the "business groups" to quit whining and give their employees health insurance, sick time and vactaion time.

Problem solved.

[Rowdyboy]

4. FMLA allowed me to hold on to my career during my mom's lengthy

illness. Many times, I was the only child that could be with her. It truly was a godsend without which we would have been devastated. I really hope Bush doesn't destroy it, but I'm sure its high on his list.

[earthboundmisfit]

5. I know that many companies really do hate FMLA

and they begrudge every worker that makes use of it.

[halobeam]

30. you bet they do.

I was quite ill. My husband took family leave. They railroaded him and set him up for an 'error' once he returned. They didn't want him there at all anymore. The employees too, had to do more work, guess the company was too cheap to temp. assign someone to replace him, so his co workers had more work to do. I know that sucks, but it sucks both ways. He lost his job. btw, they didn't pay him for family leave either, and we went bankrupt because of that.

[ninkasi]

6. We all know

from these greedy bastard's records, that the law will be diluted, neutered, or just eliminated. The big corporations don't car about your life, or your family, or mine.

They are out to squeeze every ounce of work from us, while laying us off, cutting our pay, and reducing benefits. They have never don't anything but cater to the rich. I can't think of anything Chimp has done since stealing office that has been of help to the average working class people among us.

Republicans have always been bad, but the Bush administration has gone very far, and very fast, to be the worst ever. He has done absolutely nothing for the everyday working man or woman.

[drduffy]

24. Piece of crap

republicans. For them, it is only the $, the $, the $. And they manipulate the Christians.....who should know better. What would Christ say about this??

[LibDemAlways]

9. The repukes want to take away UNPAID leave

for family emergencies? I always thought this law fell far short of what should be expected of a corporation in the first place. How about a couple of days of paid leave for employees temporarily needed at home? Too much to ask apparently. And now they want to take away unpaid leave. Filthy bastards.

[Deja Q]

12. But this is our culture of life. president Bush told us so.

[Gloria]

10. This should be a major Dem effort and Clinton himself should

join the battle...

"Putting People First for a CHANGE"--1992

[Deja Q]

11. CULTURE OF LIE. Even the freepers have to be up in arms over this one.

Yes, the typo was deliberate, how dare the Oaf of Office do this?

Culture of life, my ass.

x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x(

[Miss Chybil]

14. Of course, if it's good for Americans take it away. And if it's political

suicide, do it anyway, because - well, they can. They really don't need to worry about our votes, now do they?

[Deja Q]

15. I wish the following on supporters of dismantling FMLA:

I wish their relatives the worst, lengthiest illnesses.

I wish themselves cases where they need surgeries that require lengthy time periods off.

Harsh? Yes. Sadly. Yes. People don't give a fuck about anything unless it affects them these days. The more affluent/out-of-touch they are only makes things worse. So strike them where it counts most and maybe they'll rethink their CRUELTY.

And then we can all remember the bankruptcy bill...

[rodeodance]

16. naturally businesses are looking at the cost. --

...........Any changes to the FMLA have the potential to be a big issue, because millions have had illnesses or other life events that fall under FMLA's umbrella. In an 18-month period in 1999 and 2000, nearly 24 million Americans took leave from work for an FMLA-covered reason, according to the Labor Department's most recent figures. FMLA is often used because not all companies grant sick leave or disability coverage.

[Daphne08]

17. If Business does not want it, then it will be gone!

Why should Americans expect anything other than that from the "Compassionate Conservatives" who are running the show in Washington these days? :sarcasm:

Somebody tell me what they have done to really help working Americans lately. Please, tell me. I may have missed it.

[Rainscents]

18. This is one of the best thing happen for people who has ill family member

I'd used it few times when my son was very ill and also, when he went in for emgerncy surgries. I had to stay at home to take care of him.

[cornermouse]

19. Hey if they're sick enough to die, then there's really no need

for everyone to sit around waiting for it to happen when they could be at work, now, is it? :sarcasm:

[Danmel]

20. My husband took one month off when our son was born

I had a C-section and developed a serious post surgical infection. I had to be re hospitalized for a week with a Staph Aureus(sp?)infection. After I was released, I still had a wound that needed irrigation, I was on potent oral anti biotics to which I had an allergic reaction and we had a three year old girl at home. I have no idea what would have happened to us had he not been able to take the time because my mother and father were elderly and my in laws are useless.

I am not at all surprised they'd try to take this protection away too. Dump them out of the hospital, don't provide insurance coverage for home care, don't let them keep their jobs- true Republican compassion.

[Nite Owl]

21. Reading this what it really seems

to be saying is that people can't be trusted just like women can't be trusted to do the right thing with choice. Whenever the repukes and their business buddies try to roll things back it always blames the American people for being somehow dishonest or lazy. This was done with the bankrupcy bill and welfare 'reform'.

[napi21]

22. Do you think it's because some people abuse the system?

I really do believe MOST people who receive gov't benefits, wether it's welfare, family leave, disability, etc, really deserve everything they get. But there are some abusers in all benefit programs. I know, I've encountered a few myself. Is it possible that because the average doesn't make news, the exception does, that some people are supporting these reforms because they see the problem as bigger than it is?

Are the many being punished for the bad actions of the few?

[Nite Owl]

23. Sure there are some who abuse the system

but most people are willing to work hard and use benefits only as needed. They want to paint the majority with the same brush to save money. It just comes off as Americans are pretty bad people to them.

[Horse with no Name]

29. FMLA does not have a high potential for abuse because

you have to have a physician signing off on it who is willing to say that you or your family member is ill.
Not many physician's are going to sacrifice their license so someone can get some unauthorized time off.

[fedupwithbush]

25. This act allowed me a great memory and I'm so thankful for it.

I had my first child in 1996. I live in Kansas. My employer was overly generous. I received 7 weeks of full pay. I was unable to work the week before our son was born. I can't say enough about this act. It makes family's stronger and should always be possible for everyone in a birth or in extreme circumstances like you and your family.

Everyone deserves some respect and time to do what they need to do to take care of a family member. Just another great reason for me to detest everything about the Bush administration and the neocons.

[sonicx]

26. more 'pro-family' laws

[LizW]

28. This law has been stuck in Republican craws for years

My freeper boss at the time ranted about it for weeks on end, even though NO ONE in the company could ever afford to use it.

[bling bling]

31. Not getting paid to care for dying children/parents is just too "liberal"

It's not fair to make the poor businesses have to not fire someone for needing to care for his or her family.

But I guess that's why we haven't been getting elected. We aren't the "moral" ones, right?