Red States Could Finally Get This Popular Liberal Policy

A growing number of liberal states have passed paid sick leave laws in recent years, assuring workers get paid time off to care for themselves or their loved ones when they’re ill. Now some conservative states might be getting in on the act, too.

Campaigns in , much like boosting the minimum wage. A majority of states, including some red ones, now mandate a higher minimum wage than the federal level of $7.25 per hour, thanks in large part to statewide referendums.

This year’s sick leave initiatives in Missouri and Alaska pair the proposals with minimum wage hikes that would send the state rates to $15 per hour within a few years. The current state rates are $12.30 in Missouri and $11.73 in Alaska.

Using ballot measures makes a lot of sense for paid leave advocates since the strategy provides a way around Republican-dominated statehouses that won’t advance paid leave legislation. Such proposals have fared well when put directly to voters in other states, though not all states allow referendums.

Backers of the Nebraska and Missouri initiatives have been frustrated by how little traction paid-leave bills have gained in their legislatures, typically withering away in committees without debate. Republicans control both statehouses and tend not to put new mandates on businesses, even if the concepts might be popular.

“Our legislature just turns a blind eye to the bills that really are about people’s day-to-day struggles and what they need,” von Glahn said. “That’s why we’ve had to turn to the ballot initiative process.”

The paid-leave proposals have received backing not just from labor groups but from faith and public-health groups as well. The Missouri campaign says it has received endorsements from the Missouri Psychological Association, the state’s Episcopal diocese and the March of Dimes, among dozens of other entities.

So far, there have been no organized public campaigns against the initiatives in Nebraska, Missouri or Alaska. Businesses still have nearly two months to mobilize, but, given the polling, they may find it to be a losing battle not worth spending money on.

“I do expect once we see the outcome of these elections that there will be more interest in other states,” said Jared Make, vice president of A Better Balance, which advocates for paid leave.

Democrats have been pushing unsuccessfully for a federal paid leave law for years. Their latest proposal, the Healthy Families Act, would enable most workers to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 worked, capped at 56 hours per year. But the legislation is unlikely to go anywhere so long as the GOP controls the House or can filibuster in the Senate. The Senate version of the bill has 43 Democratic co-sponsors but not a single Republican.

Make said so long as such roadblocks exist in Washington, advocates will continue pushing referendums and legislation on the state level.

“While we’re continuing to work for nationwide action, we also can’t wait,” he said. “Too many workers don’t have this basic right.”