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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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The Legislative Process, How A Legislative Bill Becomes Law
November 10, 2009
House Bill Would Assure Workers Paid Sick Days
They are at it again, this time they are using the H1N1 (Swine) flu to force new employee mandates upon your business, Representative George Miller, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced legislation on November 3rd that would guarantee five paid sick days for workers sent home by their employers with a contagious illness.
Mr. Miller, who is a Democrat from California, voiced concern that more than 40 million workers did not have paid sick days and that many workers coming into contact with the public, like restaurant and school cafeteria employees, would go to work with the Swine flu and spread it among their coworkers and the unsuspecting public if they could not afford to stay home.
"Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldn't have to choose between their livelihood and their coworkers' or customers' health," Mr. Miller said. "This will not only protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees don't spread infection to coworkers and customers."
Under Mr. Miller's proposal, which he called "emergency temporary" legislation, workers would be guaranteed the five paid days if their employers sent them home or advised them to stay home or go home.
Under the bill, called the Emergency Influenza Containment Act, workers deciding to stay home on their own, asserting that they are sick, would not be guaranteed paid sick days.
Business groups including the IEC have opposed legislation requiring paid sick days, calling them expensive employer mandates for something workers and their bosses can usually work out.
The bill would apply to businesses with 15 or more employees. Under the proposed legislation, workers who follow their employer's direction to stay home because of contagious illness cannot be fired, disciplined, or retaliated against for staying home. The bill would take effect 15 days after being signed and would expire after two years.
Mr. Miller said that he planned hearings the week of November 16th. "We would like to move it to the floor as soon as possible," Mr. Miller said in a telephone news briefing. "The influenze isn't waiting for the legislative calendar."
The bill is co-sponsored by Representative Lynn Woolsey, a California Democrat who is chairwoman of the labor committee's Workforce Protections Subcommittee. "The bill will ensure that workers who are directed to stay home by their employers can do so without paying a financial penalty," she said.
In May, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the late Massachusetts Democrat, and Representative Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, introduced bills in the Senate and House that if passed would guarantee seven paid sick days to all workers at businesses with 15 or more employees.
Make no mistake, if they are successful in passing this so called "emergency legislation", it is not a big leap for them to expand it and make the requirement permanent.
Please use the following links to contact your Representatives regarding this legislatin, and as always please utilize www.IEC.Votes.com to make your voice heard on various issues effecting Small Business and the Electrical Contracting Industry.
iec.illumen.org/portal?action=viewHome
Employee Free Choice Act
IEC continues to be an active participant in the Coalition for a Democration Workplace (CDW), which is the only business coalition focused on defeating the onerous Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).
The Coalition is made up of more than 500 business groups and was formerly chaired by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). However, the departure of ABC's top lobbyist created a vacancy and IEC was chosen to chair this important coalition. This is a significant accomplishment for IEC, as this position is front and center in the business community in Washington. It is by far the most important and potentially damaging business issue facing our industry and the business community at large. NJ-IEC has also joined the CDW standing with the IEC National against this egregious legislation.
It is important that all Merit Shop Electrical Contractors know just what IEC is doing to fight for its' contractor members.
Please visit: www.myprivateballot.com
IEC Votes
IECVotes now provides expanded information and tracking of state legislation as well as access to the Federal Register.
The site is worthy of a daily visit by members who want the latest political news related to our industry. News stories and political updates targeted towards key issues are provided daily from over 7,500 news sources nationwide. The site continues to serve as our grassroots center for members to contact their Federal Representative and will also provide State Legislator contact information.
NJ-IEC will also be posting New Jersey Legislative Issues along with sample letters on the site.
Visit www.IECVotes.com regularly and send the letters posted to your Federal Legislators as often as possible.
NJECPAC