Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 4, 1993 TAG: 9302040206
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
HOUSE APPROVES LEAVE BILL
The House on Wednesday approved family-leave legislation, the lead item on an ambitious social agenda that Democratic lawmakers share with President Clinton.The bill - guaranteeing millions of workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave to deal with family emergencies - was approved 265-163. The Senate is considering a nearly identical version.
Senate approval was expected within a day or two, after a delay caused by Republican objections over Clinton's efforts to reshape the nation's ban on homosexuals in the military.
Democrats hope they can have the bill to Clinton for his signature by the end of the week to support their claim that government gridlock has been broken. Family-leave legislation was twice vetoed by former President Bush.
Voting for the bill in the House were 224 Democrats, 40 Republicans and one independent. Opposed were 134 Republicans and 29 Democrats.
Among Virginians voting for the bill were Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon. Those opposing it included Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, and L.F. Payne, D-Nelson County.
In a long day of House debate, Democrats used their majority strength to brush aside GOP attempts to alter the measure to make it less onerous for business.
"Family and medical leave is the first of many commitments we're going to make to working families," said Rep. William Ford, D-Mich., a chief House sponsor.
But House Minority Leader Robert Michel, R-Ill., poked fun at Democrats for rushing the family-leave bill, arguing that it didn't have anything to do with economic recovery.
"We won't create one job - it works exactly the opposite way," Michel said, adding that the bill didn't have enough protections against employees abusing leaves.
Democrats in the Senate also defeated GOP attempts to soften the bill, but a final vote was put off in the unrelated struggle over homosexuals in the military.
Under the family-leave measure, companies with more than 50 workers would have to offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the care of a newborn or for a family medical emergency.