Paid family leave gets massive popular support but Republicans are still blocking it

Rss@dailykos.com (laura Clawson) · Saturday, May 21, 2016, 1:16 pm

Go figure. Paid family leave is really very popular with American voters, despite being very unpopular with the Republicans who control Congress.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Friday said 72 percent support paid family leave. Democrats were more likely to back it, but Republicans also expressed strong support. Overall, support was stronger among people age 40-64 and among women.

About those Republicans:

A bill to make that leave paid was introduced in the Senate last year but has gone nowhere in Congress. Among the presidential candidates, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have voiced support for paid family leave. Donald Trump hasn't offered a clear opinion.

Make that: A bill to make that leave paid was introduced in the Senate last year by Democrats but has gone nowhere in Congress because Republicans are blocking it. Three states now have paid family leave programs, and New York has passed such a law that hasn’t yet gone into effect. All are funded by payroll deductions, just like other social insurance programs.

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