Democrat State Senator Betsy Johnson proved through her voting record that she really is not for the middle class worker/family. Johnson sided with Republicans on the Paid Family Leave Bill and voted NO. This bill would of allowed a paid leave up to six weeks at $250.00 per week, for newborn care or elderly parent care. The funds to pay for such leave would be paid for, by the workers through a payroll tax at one cent per hour.
I can not understand how Johnson could vote no, on such as important issue, especially since the funds would be paid for, by the workers, and not her friends in corporate.
Since nearly all corporations in Oregon, either pays a mere $10.00 per year in corporate taxes, or nothing at all. I cannot understand how this bill would have caused the corporations a dime, after all they are profiting off all taxpayers in Oregon, by having the middle class, and poor take up the slack, in the tax structure of this state.
Through static's, it is proven that people, such as the elderly, recover from illness quicker and better if they are taken care of at home, not to forget that it is cheaper than putting them in a nursing home, where the care givers are under staffed, and have little time to see to the patients special needs.
The elderly in this country, are hardly able to exist on their meager retirement incomes, so lets further add to their financial problems, by sticking them into a facility, that costs more than $3 thousand dollars per month, many more times than the elderly persons income to begin with.
I can see no problem with a worker taking time off from work and receiving a small check that they have paid for, to care for their parents, I do not believe that $250.00 is rewarding a person for giving temporary care to the people who are responsible for bringing them into this world, or to their own babies. $250.00 is a lot less than most bring home each week.
Every one of us needs to remember, that each one of us, could be an illness away, from losing everything that you have worked for your whole life, it could be gone in a heart beat, even if you have insurance.
Lawmakers need to start being loyal to the people who are paying the brunt of the taxes in this country and this state, and that definitely leaves out Corporate America.
As for Senator Betsy Johnson, all I can say is SHAME ON YOU!
Note: Senator Johnson who goes after the labor vote and needs their support, may have shot her self in the foot, when she sided with the republicans to squash this bill, later on this year we will see how labor rates the senator from Scappoose, on her voting record. Labor in this county might see who their friends really are.