Paid Family Leave: What are you really paying for?

The Democrats’ Paid Family Leave plan is gaining momentum in the legislature and a newly released fiscal note reveals what it will cost: $1 billion! The money will come directly from Minnesotans’ paychecks and be used to form a new government bureaucracy with 300 employees.

The paid family leave bill has many shortcomings. If passed, it would negatively impact small businesses, employees, and consumers. A poll by Center of the American Experiment finds that when told about the $1 billion new payroll tax and paid family leave government bureaucracy, 56% of Minnesotans say they are much less likely to support it.

Michele Tafoya explains it well in her recent op-ed:

“The current proposal would give a single worker who has worked just three months up to 24 weeks off for family and medical leave. That's nearly six months off a year!

And whether you are a mom-and-pop shop in Ely with three full-time employees or 3M in Maple Grove, businesses would be required to hold these jobs open for the entire duration of an employee's leave. Companies would also be required to pay for any benefits that employees enjoy as part of their job — all while trying to find temporary workers to fill the gap.

The Democrats’ one-size fits all approach to paid family leave is not what is right for Minnesota. It’s time to work across the aisle and find a solution that works for everyone.