Federal Family Leave Would Make Parents Pay More To Get Less Help
A one-size-fits-all, federal paid family leave program would be ineffective, disruptive, and costly.A one-size-fits-all, federal paid family leave program would be ineffective, disruptive, and costly.'Paid leave should be a national right' Megan Markle says in letter to Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Megan Markle is advocating for the U.S. to guarantee paid leave for American workers.
"Paid leave should be a national right, rather than a patchwork option limited to those whose employers have policies in place, or those who live in one of the few states where a leave program exists," she contends in the letter. "If we're going to create a new era of family first policies, let's make sure that includes a strong paid leave program for every American that's guaranteed, accessible, and encouraged without stigma or penalty."
Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, has two young children with her husband Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex.
In her letter she noted that when their second child was born earlier this year they "weren't confronted with the harsh reality of either spending those first few critical months with our baby or going back to work. We knew we could take her home, and in that vital (and sacred) stage, devote any and everything to our kids and to our family. We knew that by doing so we wouldn't have to make impossible choices about childcare, work, and medical care that so many have to make every single day.
"No family should be faced with these decisions," she continued. "No family should have to choose between earning a living and having the freedom to take care of their child (or a loved one, or themselves, as we would see with a comprehensive paid leave plan)."
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has recently faced criticism for taking paid leave.
Politico reported last week that he had been on paid leave since mid-August to have time with his husband and their newborn children.
"For the first four weeks, he was mostly offline except for major agency decisions and matters that could not be delegated," a Department of Transportation spokesperson said, according to the outlet. "He has been ramping up activities since then." As he does, he will "continue to take some time over the coming weeks to support his husband and take care of his new children," the spokesperson noted, according to the outlet.
That Baltimore HS where a student made it to senior year passing three classes with 0.13 GPA? The district has been investigating the school since 2019.
Readers of TheBlaze no doubt recall the story earlier this month about a Baltimore high school student who made it to his senior year passing only three courses with a 0.13 grade point average — and yet was ranked near the top half of his class at Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts.
Then he got sent back to the 9th grade — and more than that, his mother said she never knew.
Well, the plot has been thickening.
What now?
Turns out Baltimore City Schools launched an investigation into "irregularities" at Augusta Fells in the summer 2019 and placed the principal and assistant principal on administrative leave, WBFF-TV reported, citing a statement from the district.
But the station said the statement doesn't say that the principal and assistant principal remained on the payroll, to the tune of $365,000 so far.
More from WBFF:
According to online records, former principal Tracy Hicks retired in January 2021. That's 17 months after North Avenue launched the investigation into her school, which still is not complete. Based off her 2018 salary, in those 17 months, Hicks earned nearly $190,000. The assistant principal, Joy Kwesiga, still works for City Schools and is on administrative leave. Since the investigation began, she's earned $175,000. Combined, taxpayers have paid about $365,000 to the administrators of Augusta Fells, as their school has been under investigation.
What did the school district have to say?
The station said Baltimore City Schools issued the following statement:
As part of City Schools' proactive steps upon discovering the issues at Augusta Fells, the principal and one assistant principal were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation and a new principal was brought in. As required by both U.S. Constitutional Law and Maryland Law, when individuals are placed on administrative leave, they are still active employees who are entitled to their pay. This is a step that supports an employee's due process. The former principal has since left the district and is no longer on payroll. The assistant principal remains on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation and disciplinary process, which is expected to be concluded in the coming weeks.
WBFF's Project Baltimore investigative unit said it attempted to contact former Principal Hicks through multiple emails and phone numbers but didn't hear back. Same deal after it mailed her a letter. So a station reporter went to her last known address in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and knocked on the door — and no one answered, WBFF said.
A neighbor told the reporter Hicks moved but offered her cell phone number — and again, the station said it hadn't heard back.
WBFF also said it didn't heard back from assistant principal Kwesiga.
'They do what they're told to do'
Back in September 2019 after Hicks was placed on leave, Jimmy Gittings — president of the principals' union — talked about Hicks, who was also a union officer, WBFF reported.
"Let me be very careful about this. That's why our principals might be doing things that upper management, the public might question," Gittings told the station at the time. "They have no other choice. Either they do what they're told to do, and either be punished for it, or don't do it and get punished."
Gittings also told WBFF that principals are under pressure to improve school data, such as graduation rates and attendance, but aren't always provided the resources to do it — so they have to find other ways.
"You will not get me to publicly or privately say that our principals are doing something that is not right, let's put it that way. Our principals are doing everything possible to ensure that our students are receiving the best education possible. And if they go about it in their way to make sure that a student receives the best education possible, it shouldn't be questioned," he added to the station. "They should not be chastised or punished for it."
Gittings declined to speak to WBFF this time around due to family issues, the station said.
(H/T: Hot Air)
Biden's COVID bill offers up to $21K in paid leave to federal workers whose kids are at home due to school closures
A paid leave perk buried deep in President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package offers to pay federal government employees to stay home if at least one of their children is in attendance at a school that has not returned to full-time in-person operation.
The provision, exclusive to federal workers, is sure to draw ire from conservatives as the albatross 591-page document known as the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" advances through Congress. The bill has been roundly criticized by Republicans as wasteful and filled with "bailouts, pork, and unrelated policy changes" since its introduction in the House last Friday.
The measure is supported by the "Emergency Federal Employee Leave Fund," which is outlined on page 305 of the House version of the bill. Under the new legislation, $570 million set to be deposited into the fund is designed to assist federal workers caring for themselves or others "unable to work" due of the pandemic.
Among those eligible for the enhanced paid leave are those federal workers who are "caring for a son or daughter" out of school due to COVID-19 precautions.
What's more is that the school doesn't need to be completely closed to in-person instruction in order for the worker to receive the paid leave benefit. Rather, the school merely needs to "make optional" any type of instruction other than full-time, in person instruction. Here's what the bill's text says, specifically:
Amounts in the Fund shall be available for payment to an agency for the use of paid leave by any employee of the agency who is unable to work because the employee ... is caring for a son or daughter of such employee if the school or place of care of the son or daughter has been closed, if the school of such son or daughter requires or makes optional a virtual learning instruction model or requires or makes optional a hybrid of in-person and virtual learning instruction models, or the child care provider of such son or daughter is unavailable, due to COVID–19 precautions.
Forbes senior contributor Adam Andrzejewski noted that critics are calling the measure "a personal bailout for bureaucrats."
He added that "under the bill as currently drafted, full-time federal employees can take up to 600 hours in paid leave until September 30, up to $35 an hour and $1,400 a week. That's 15 weeks for a 40-hour employee. Part-time and 'seasonal' employees are eligible, too, with equivalent hours established by their agency."
A quick calculation shows that federal employees can collect up to $21,000 in paid leave under the proposed measure. Not bad for sitting at home in your pajamas.
Teacher who flipped out on anti-lockdown protesters is under investigation, placed on leave
Turns out the self-proclaimed teacher who flipped out on anti-lockdown protesters in Bend, Oregon, over the weekend and spewed multiple F-bombs at them wasn't lying.
She's indeed a teacher in nearby Jefferson County School District 509-J — and officials there placed her on paid administrative leave while the district investigates the incident, KTVZ-TV reported.
What's the background?
As TheBlaze reported Monday, the teacher in question was caught on video cursing out the peaceful protesters from her Subaru at the intersection of Northwest Greenwood Avenue and Northwest Wall Street.
Wearing a headband with her COVID-19 mask dangling below her chin, the ponytailed leftist let loose on protesters: "Bitch! Kill yourself!"
"I'm a f***ing teacher! I work in schools!" she screamed. "F*** you! F*** you! I am a teacher! I teach students!"
All the while the protesters simply turned up their own volume — and some simply laughed at the lunacy-filled moment.
"Our families are dying!" she hollered, her high-pitched voice cracking.
In another odd moment she appeared to welcome the attention of those recording her antics, maniacally waving and yelling "hi" to the cameras:
She then hollered "F*** all of you!" before finally driving away as demonstrators chanted "USA! USA! USA!"
Here's the clip, which was posted to Twitter on Sunday. Content warning: Profanity:
Bend Oregon peaceful rally to keep businesses open. This crazy lady is a teacher there. She needs to be fired. Sh… https://t.co/NlBYwNWXsA— 🇺🇸🦅M💥A💥G💥A🦅🇺🇲 (@🇺🇸🦅M💥A💥G💥A🦅🇺🇲)1607300364.0
Anything else?
"We are aware of the incident and are investigating," Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Ken Parshall told KTVZ. He declined to identify the first-year teacher or which school or grades she has taught in, citing personnel confidentiality.
The Jefferson County School District office is located in Madras, about 50 minutes north of Bend, which is in Deschutes County.
The station said more than 2 million people had viewed Twitter and Facebook posts of the profanity-laced video.
How are folks reacting?
Reactions to the Oregonian's tweet about the teacher's suspension were all over the map:
- "I mean, she wasn't armed like a lot of these whackados...I'd say she conducted herself just fine," one commenter wrote.
- "She needs a mental health evaluation," another user opined.
- "Freakin psycho.. she told someone to go kill themselves for standing up for their right to be self reliant," another commenter said. "She should lose her teaching license, she has uncontrollable rage."
- "Should get a promotion and a bonus...the anti-lockdown protests are wrong," another user noted. "3 weeks of 100% adherance [sic] and it would be over already, but no..."
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