Press Release: North Dakota House Republicans Oppose Democrats and President Trump on Paid Family Leave

“North Dakota House Republicans Oppose Democrats and President Trump on Paid Family Leave”

Yesterday afternoon, Republicans in the North Dakota House nearly unanimously opposed HB 1509, sponsored by Rep. Karla Rose Hanson (D-Fargo). HB 1509 would establish a paid family leave program by requiring employers and employees where there are 50 or more individuals employed, to fund a paid family leave bank, where eligible employees who need to take time off to care for a family member like a newborn child or sick relative, would be eligible for 66% of their salary, up to $4,000 a month.

 

While North Dakota House Republicans were rejecting a paid family leave on Tuesday afternoon, on Tuesday evening, President Trump announced his proposal for a paid family leave program paid by employees and employers and managed at the state level.

 

“Paid family leave is a good common sense idea to help working families and I am glad that President Trump agrees. President Trump’s proposal is a good first step” said Warren Larson, Chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “It is unfortunate that House Republicans yesterday put partisanship over North Dakota working families. Now that President Trump has proposed paid family leave legislation, I predict that a lot of North Dakota Republicans in the Legislature will all of sudden find themselves supporting Rep. Hanson’s bill.”