Family leave - Not so fast!

Just when it seemed that the family leave bill was heading to join its friends of railroaded legislation that either means nothing or costs the taxpayers more, the brakes have been applied. From the Philadelphia Business Journal:

Legislation to provide paid family leave in New Jersey was not placed on the Senate's agenda on Monday, delaying for months what was to be a final vote on the issue.

An emergency vote, requiring three-fourths majority approval to pass, was necessary for the Senate to vote legally on final passage of the measure, according to the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services. Without the emergency vote, the bill, which was substituted by the Assembly for a Senate bill, requires the usual three readings in the Senate before it can be voted upon. The delay will give state business groups that oppose the measure more time to plead their case.

Now maybe some maturity can be applied to this wonderful "feel good" exercise which is nothing more than another Trenton giveaway when the State and its citizens can ill afford it. In case someone thinks I am heartless, I would love to have any or all of the following:

1. Free health care
2. Free transportation to and from work
3. Heck, no work, just pay
4. Puppies for everyone
5. Free Girl Scout Cookies because some of them are really good
6. Free insurance
7. Free house that I get to keep


But there is one small problem. I could not ask my fellow citizens to reward my complete and utter lack of productivity. And what makes me wonder is why so many of our elected politicians are so willing to head straight for the camera and pat themselves on the back for SACRIFICING my hard earned money. It pains them so.

How about this if our elected politicians want this law. Instead of business paying for it, have all of our elected politicians give up their second (or third or fourth or fifth) state job or paid patronage appointment and take only the pension due their elected office (around $12,000-this number courtesy of the education I am provided by Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure in The Soprano State which we will be reviewing in a later post). This should more than make up the cost of this program for its life.

Of course the downside of this delay is that it will give certain politicians time to set up their new side businesses in Family Leave Counseling and bid for the soon to be (you know it's coming) let state contracts for same. Bet you the first one is in Hamilton.

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