H1N1 bill mutates to something more virulent without a public hearing
By Tony Payne | Mar 22, 2010
Augusta —
Public health officials always fear mutation of aggressive viruses like H1N1 as they can wreak havoc long before a remedy is found. State Senate President Libby Mitchell's bill to "prevent the spread of H1N1" virus (known more accurately as LD 1665 - the paid sick leave bill) has mutated and Maine businesses are genuinely at risk.
Lacking sufficient support to mandate that employers pay for sick leave, Sen. Mitchell now would REQUIRE ALL MAINE EMPLOYERS (private, public, non-profit, small & large) to provide up to five days of UNPAID sick leave without proof of illness to justify their absence.
The bill also allows employees to sue their employers if their employer takes any action regarding their absence at work and employees can also collect attorneys fees and court costs if they prevail. There is, of course, no provision to allow employers to collect their legal costs if they prevail.
Quoted on public radio, State Representative Michael Thibodeau of Winterport, a contractor, described his experience of having one of his employees call in sick only to see him later in the day at a local lunch place substantially inebriated. Under this bill, Thibodeau would risk a law suit if he challenged the absence of the drunk employee.
Though meant to seem to be an innocuous compromise, this new strain of bill has many troubling dimensions:
-
some on the labor committee have decided that this is not a substantive change, therefore, it will not have a public hearing
- this bill would also be the only one of its kind in the entire nation
- there is no demonstrable need for this bill other than it is an agenda item for those who promote unfunded entitlement mandates on the backs of Maine employers
- it further erodes the employer's ability to manage their place of work and encourages absenteeism
- it compounds Maine's already poor reputation as a place to create jobs
Here's the question: Why would some legislators, including a candidate for governor, be trying to discourage employers during the worst economic recession in the lifetimes of most Maine people? Ask your own legislators and the members of the Labor Committee why they might think this bill is good for Maine? Then stay tuned to see how they vote on this landmark proposal. We'll let you know.
Members of the Labor Committee:
| Senate: | |
| Troy Dale Jackson, Chair (D-Aroostook) | http://www.mainesenate.org/jackson/email.htm |
| Stan Gerzofsky (D-Cumberland) | http://www.mainesenate.org/gerzofsky/email.htm |
| Peter Mills (R-Somerset) | pmills@mainelegal.net |
| House: | |
| John L. Tuttle, Jr., Chair (D-Sanford) | RepJohn.Tuttle@legislature.maine.gov |
| Herbert E. Clark (D-Millinocket) | RepHerbert.Clark@legislature.maine.gov |
| Timothy E. Driscoll (D-Westbrook) | RepTimothy.Driscoll@legislature.maine.gov |
| Anna D. Blodgett (D-Augusta) | RepAnna.Blodgett@legislature.maine.gov |
| Steven J. Butterfield II (D-Bangor) | steve@stevebutterfield.org |
| Paul E. Gilbert (D-Jay) | RepPaul.Gilbert@legislature.maine.gov |
| Andre E. Cushing III (R-Hampden)* | RepAndre.Cushing@legislature.maine.gov |
| James Michael Hamper (R-Oxford) | RepJames.Hamper@legislature.maine.gov |
| Michael D. Thibodeau (R-Winterport) | RepMichael.Thibodeau@legislature.maine.gov |
| Bruce A. Bickford (R-Auburn) | RepBruce.Bickford@legislature.maine.gov |
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