Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin blocked the provision that would give new parents up to 12 weeks of paid family leave.
Paid family and medical leave provisions are expected to be removed from Democrats’ Build Back Better bill.Most bills need a supermajority of 60 votes in the Senate to reach the floor for a vote and ultimately pass the chamber. To avoid a certain Republican filibuster, Democrats are using a process known as reconciliation. It requires a simple majority to pass legislation directly tied to the budget.
Manchin was apprehensive about the initial $3.5-trillion price tag and negotiated with Biden to cut the cost. Paid leave was among the provisions nixed from the package to bring down the cost and ensure his support. Manchin also opposed establishing any new government programs.Senate Democrats vowed to press Manchin to support the provision, including proposing revisions to make the program shorter or to apply to fewer life scenarios.
Private employers can voluntarily give workers paid parental leave. As of March 2021, just 23% of private-sector workers had access to such a benefit, according toand the District of Columbia mandate that employers provide paid family and sick leave. The length of such leaves vary. California workers, for example,