| 10:25 The chief of the NJ AFL-CIO is discussing the virtues of the bill. Workers NOT business will pay for it so what's the big deal.
10:31 Carla Katz just arrived and she looks FIERCE!
10:40 Dr. Applebaum from Rutgers Center for Women in the Workplace stresses that this bill would help the poor the most. But the middle class is too and many face bankruptcy as a result of a major illness.
She notes two concessions to business community: 1) workers pay for this program AND 2) small business are largely exempt. Unfortunately 2/3 small companies in NJ offer no paid leave of anykind anyway. No sick or maternity leave, no vacations.
10:51 NJPP makes their case. "Low wage workers would benefit most " from this compromise. He sees the small business exemption as creating second class citizenship amongst workers. He castigates the business community for their fear tactics.
The Naysayers
10:55 The head of the state's Chamber of Commerce can't shit on this bill enough. We should do more like Pennsylvania she says "with no family leave." She uses platitudes like "Nail in the coffin for business."
11:42 the back and forth is still going on. This is driving me to drink. The aide de camp of the head of the Chamber of Commerce just got up in my grill and told me that he's got all the background I will ever need for this story. Clearly this clown doesn't read the liberal blogs.
I told him that I had only one question for him: "does your boss -- who dissed all over this bill -- get paid leave for vacation or family emergencies?"
"Well sure, of course." he stammered.
Jay: "Well since that's the only question I had, here's your business card back."
11:53 My sources tell me to get the hell out of here and go get some lunch and "that we've got the votes to release this" and that I needn't bother with the play-by-play. If that's true, then family leave is one step closer to being reality. |
