Gov. Tony Evers Pushes 12 Weeks Paid Family Leave (WI GOP Pooh-Pooh's the Idea)

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It has absolutely no chance of passing the Republican-led state legislature.

But it bears repeating that Gov. Tony Evers (D) is actually looking out for the people of Wisconsin.

As part of his state budget proposal, Evers is proposing policies that actually aim to help Wisconsin families, including for parents who deserve bonding time with their infant children in the months after they're born.

From The Cap Times:

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed two-year budget, released Wednesday, would implement paid family and medical leave for public- and private-sector employees...

...

Evers’ budget would make 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave available to employees in the private and public sectors starting Jan. 1, 2025. Private-sector benefits would be funded by employer and employee contributions to a trust fund, which would be created with $243 million in one-time seed money from the state. The governor’s office said the program would pay for itself by 2026.

Republicans are already scoffing at the idea, derailing it from the start and somehow claiming it's unnecessary.

From The AP:

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said Feb. 16 that it was "very doubtful" Republicans would support Evers' plan…

LeMahieu also tried to falsely claim we've got it great here in Wisconsin, compared to other states:

LeMahieu said Feb. 16 that Wisconsin's family and leave laws are already "above and beyond what the federal standard is." But that's not the case in most scenarios. Federal law offers Wisconsin workers up to 12 weeks of leave each year, as opposed to an 8-week maximum under state law.