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What I've Been Reading This Week


Readers might be aware that President Donald Trump has been in the news lately.  Well, to be fair, he has been in the news pretty much since he announced his candidacy for President in 2015.  This week, President Trump's announcement of his proposed paid parental leave plan grabbed headlines and certainly warrants leading off this post.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


President Trump Introduces Proposed Paid Parental Leave Plan

As NPR writes, President Trump's proposal to provide six weeks of paid parental leave for mothers and fathers is a (welcomed) change from his support of only a paid maternal leave plan while he was running for President.  Under his proposed budget plan introduced this week, President Trump would require employers to provide six weeks of paid parental leave to new mothers and fathers (as well as parents who have just adopted a child).  The paid parental leave plan, which is expected to cost up to $18.5 billion over 10 years, would be funded by the states (which might result in some states having to raise taxes in order to ensure compliance either the mandatory six weeks of paid leave.  As always, there are questions over whether the proposed budget (and consequently this paid parental leave plan) can find enough support in Congress to pass.  Stay tuned.


Success of Arizona Minimum Wage Hike Used as Catalyst by Nevada Democrats

Nevada, which currently has an hourly minimum wage rate of $7.25/hour (if the employer offers health insurance) or $8.25/hour (if health insurance is not offered), is considering a bill that would raise the minimum wage rate in the state.  In doing so, Democrats in Nevada who support the passage of the legislation have argued that the success of a recent minimum wage hike in Arizona shows that the minimum wage hike has had a positive impact.  In fact, after Arizona raised its hourly wage rate on January 1, employment rates for hourly workers in the state that work in bars and restaurants increased at six times the national rate in March.  As a result, contrary to what many Republicans and pro business groups have stated, supporters of this legislation in Nevada are trying to use the success of Arizona's wage hike to drum up enough support to pass the bill.  Whether the success of Arizona's minimum wage hike translates into success for the bill in Nevada is hard to say...but it certainly does not hurt the case that Democrats are trying to make.



There has not been a lot of news on the right to work front lately.  With that being said, a bill was recently introduced in Maine which would seek to make it the next right to work state.  After an attempt failed a few years ago to make Maine a right to work state, lawmakers in the state are taking another crack at it.  However, with New Hampshire failing to pass right to work legislation a few months ago (and seemingly little changing in Maine since the last attempt was made to pass a right to work bill), I think this will likely be a long, hard slog.  Never say never, but this one has a ways to go before becoming reality.

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