
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 8, 1990                   TAG: 9005080425
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SUNUNU WARNS OF FAMILY LEAVE VETO

President Bush will veto any bill requiring employers to give time off to workers with new babies or family illness, White House chief of staff John Sununu told business leaders Monday.

Sununu threatened any version of the pending "family leave" bill that would mandate such an employee benefit, according to business group lobbyists who attended a White House meeting with him. Alixe Glen, deputy White House spokeswoman, later confirmed he had made such remarks.

The family and medical leave act would require businesses with 50 or more employees to offer unpaid time off for the care of newborn, newly adopted or seriously ill children, as well as to deal with personal health problems or to tend ill spouses or parents.

The bill, which has bipartisan support, is scheduled for House action Wednesday. It's opposed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business lobbying groups.

Sponsors of the legislation denounced Sununu's veto threat.

"It would be most unfortunate if my party, which so strongly supports family values, were to turn its back on working families, women, children, grandma and grandpa," said Rep. Marge Roukema of New Jersey. Mary Tavenner, a lobbyist for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, said businesses opposed the measure because of its cost and contended that many employers already offer better benefits.

Tavenner and Christine Russell, lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, were among the business representatives invited to Monday's White House meeting.

"He basically said the president would veto anything that is a mandated benefit," Tavenner said.

Under the House bill, employers would have to offer up to 10 weeks of unpaid family leave over a two-year period and up to 15 weeks a year for a sick worker.

An employee returning from leave must be restored to his or her previous job or an equivalent position, and employers would have to continue health insurance benefits for those on leave.

"I can't believe the kinder, gentler president is going to veto it," said Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., who described the bill as a way to help prevent family breakups.

by CNB