Sununu Unveils Paid Family Leave Plan; Democrats Balk

CONCORD, NH — Gov. Chris Sununu on Wednesday unveiled his plan for a paid family and medical leave policy, which Republicans hailed as "realistic" and Democrats denounced as "ill-thought-out." The voluntary plan would pay employees 60 percent of their wages for six weeks during events including the birth of a child and caring for a sick loved one. The "Twin State Voluntary Leave Plan" would be available to New Hampshire and Vermont residents.

Sununu and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced the policy during a news conference Wednesday in Littleton.

"We both believe paid family medical leave offers an incredible opportunity to promote a work-life balance for many workers in our states struggling to meet the demands of the workplace while also meeting the needs of their families and their own health," Sununu said. "By leveraging the economies of scale of each state’s employment base, insurance carriers will be able to write a competitively priced family leave plan."

The policy would be available to businesses and individuals. Each state would cover the costs for their combined 18,500 state employees while private-sector employers and individuals would have to pay for coverage through private carriers.

New Hampshire Republican Party Chair Wayne MacDonald praised the policy because it's voluntary.

"(It) does not rely on mandates or forced opt-ins," MacDonald said in a statement. "Under Governor Sununu’s leadership, the New Hampshire economy is booming and evolving to strengthen what employers can offer new workers."

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley called the policy "underdeveloped."

"Governor Sununu is only after a bright and shiny photo-op," Buckley said in a statement, "For months, recently elected Democratic majorities in the State Senate and House have been hard at work building a Paid Family and Medical Leave proposal that complies with Sununu's stated qualifications and works for New Hampshire. Sununu's unilateral memorandum is nothing but a desperate and useless attempt to make Granite Staters forget he thinks Paid Leave is a vacation."

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