Gerrymandering by Republicans has left Wisconsin with a one-party government that has worked for them but not for the people. Even Republicans agree! Consider the issue of paid family leave.
It gets complicated but in essence the issue is this: Should Wisconsin employers be required to pay for leave so that employees can care for their families?
Paid leave has been overwhelmingly popular, according to statewide polling, but legislative Republicans are not yet on board, despite past GOP support for the measure. A November 2022 Marquette Law School poll found 73% of Wisconsinites favor paid family leave for mothers and fathers of new babies. This includes 62% of Republicans favoring it and 95% of Democrats.
One of the cornerstones of Gov. Tony Evers’ most recent budget was a proposal that would give public and private sector workers 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave benefits by Jan. 1, 2025. Wisconsin’s Republican gubernatorial candidates in 2022, Rebecca Kleefisch and Tim Michels, indicated that they would support paid leave. Michels, who is the co-owner of the state’s largest construction firm, said that if elected he would sign legislation requiring employers to provide paid leave. Kleefisch, the former lieutenant governor, also signaled support. “We need to make sure that moms and dads have time to bond with their babies,” Kleefisch said.
When Evers revealed his budget on Feb. 15, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said he did not support the plan. LeMahieu said Wisconsin already goes “above and beyond the national standard for FMLA.”
Sen. Howard Marklein, co-chairman of Joint Finance, said the legislature would consider all ideas and would seek input from constituents and stakeholders. Enter one of those Republican constituent/stakeholder groups, the Wisconsin Right To Life. “It’s something we’re looking at right now seriously” a spokesperson said.
So why did paid parental leave go nowhere in the Republican budget? A good question that can only be answered with “the system is rigged”. No matter what his personal views are on the matter of paid family leave, Clint Moses does not dare to oppose the GOP leadership, on this or any issue. WMC, or the American Conservative Union, or some other such lobbying organization makes a deal with leadership, leadership tells the minions how to vote, and we’re all stuck with the results. The system is rigged and will remain rigged until we return to two party government in Wisconsin.