On Monday, the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee voted 6-5 to table S.B. 11, a proposal mandating up to 12 weeks of “paid family leave” for all New Mexico businesses.
The move would have been a multi-million dollar tax on employees that would have forced small businesses and employees to pay into a fund for paid leave.
According to the group Better Together New Mexico, “SB 11, the Paid Family Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) is estimated to cost well over $400 million dollars if it becomes law. This act forces employees and employers to pay out of pocket into a fund managed by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. That’s the same agency that overpaid an estimated $250 million dollars in unemployment benefits during 2020-21.”
“Many New Mexicans are already dealing with the financial strain of inflation, and for many families, an additional .5% of their wages would go into this state-managed fund.”
The bill carried by Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) died with two Democrats, Reps. Patricia Lundstrom (Gallup) and Marian Matthews (Albuquerque) voting with all four Republicans against the costly measure.
“Lundstrom also expressed concern about the long-term solvency of the initial fund, saying it’s likely businesses would have to pay more to keep it afloat down the line,” according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
With the 2023 Legislative Session ending at noon on Saturday, the bill is undoubtedly dead.
Supporters of the extreme bill, including AARP New Mexico, told reporters they are optimistic the bill will come back in another legislative session, despite its extreme cost to businesses and workers, who would be significantly taxed for the socialized program.
Whew! Close one.
Wow, 2 Dems willing to go off the reservation. I’m sure they both will be targeted for a primary for their disobedience to the ‘party’
Linda Serrato is a California transplant sent here to get Obama elected. Her socialist legislation reflects all the big-government-leftist policies of failed governments to including the ridiculous HB 7 Reproductive and Gender Affirming Health Care Act which is blatantly unconstitutional.
Patti Lundstrom has always been very intelligent and even handed. She analyzes what is best and votes following the same. She is an “old school” democrat, the kind we used to have when Dems and Repubs could argue a bill and then go have lunch together. Non of the hate and vitriol we see today. Good Job Patricia! Matt
Patti Lundstrom has always been very intelligent and even handed. She analyzes what is best and votes following the same. She is an “old school” democrat, the kind we used to have when Dems and Repubs could argue a bill and then go have lunch together. Non of the hate and vitriol we see today. Good Job Patricia! Matt
And all said, it’s abhorrent that taxpayer money went into the commercial promoting this bill. I wonder who is related to, and paid Carlos Medina for this commercial, lowly portraying NM Families by saying ‘his uncle was trimming his toe nails with his teeth.’ Seriously?? It is such an insult to have such a crass and repulsive depiction of the Hispanic culture. We have such a problem with how NM families and Hispanics are viewed as it is, and then the dumb ass thinks that’s funny.