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OCR Page 1 of 81Clinton Proposes Using Surpluses
To Extend Family Leave Benefits
By JOHN M. BRODER
employers who finance the systems
GRAMBLING, La, May 23 -
or to pay for new benefits. Four
Seeking to expand one of his most
states - Maryland, Massachusetts,
popular programs, President Clinton
Vermont and Washington - have
said today that he would direct the
asked the Federal Government to
Labor Department to explore ways
approve the use of the surpluses to
to allow states to use surplus unem-
expand benefits to new parents who
ployment insurance funds to subsi-
want to take time off work.
dize parents who take time off to
Surpluses in states' funds for the
care for a new child.
jobless and in their medical accounts
The President announced the pro-
for children and the indigent are
posed expansion of the Family and
overflowing because of low unem-
Medical Leave law in a commence-
ployment and reductions in welfare
ment address at Grambling State
and health care benefits, sparking a
University, a historically black
classic liberal-conservative political
debate. The President and Demo-
school in north-central Louisiana.
cratic lawmakers believe the money
Mr. Clinton used the speech to dis-
should be devoted to expanded bene-
cuss the growing strains faced by
fits. Business groups and many Re-
working parents and to offer a few
publican lawmakers say the money
nuggets of relief.
should be returned to employers and
"Today's working parents too
taxpayers.
often feel enormous stress and bring
The President today also proposed
that stress home with them," the
allowing Federal employees to use
President said this morning under a
their accumulated sick leave to care
roasting sun in Grambling's football
for seriously ill family members, a
stadium, as thousands fanned them-
modest expansion of benefits that
selves with commencement pro-
would cost the Government about $60
grams. "Unless we act now, this
million a year, a White House aide
problem will get worse."
said. The plan would affect 10,000
The President said states should
Federal workers, the aide said..
be permitted to broaden the defini-
Mr. Clinton cited a new study by
tion of unemployment to include
the White House Council of Econom-
those parents who voluntarily took
ic Advisers. "They found that be-
time off to care for newborns or
cause more and more parents are
newly adopted children. Many new
working outside the home, they have
parents do not take advantage of the
less and less time with their chil-
unpaid leave offered under the Fam-
dren," he told the Grambling gradu-
ily and Medical Leave Act of 1993
ates. "I believe it is imperative that
because they cannot afford to live
your country give you the tools to
without their wages even for a few
succeed not only in the workplace but
weeks after a child is born.
also at home. If you or any American
More than half the states are run-
has to choose between being a good
ning surpluses in their unemploy-
parent and successful in your ca-
ment accounts, and several are look-
reers, you have paid a terrible price,
ing at ways to return the payments to
and so has your country."
The New York Times
MONDAY, MAY 24, 1999