Supporters of paid sick leave call for override of Gov. Hogan's veto
KENSINGTON, Md. (ABC7) — Several dozen people rallied in Kensington Tuesday afternoon, calling on the Maryland General Assembly to override the governor’s veto of a paid sick time bill.
Republican Governor Larry Hogan vetoed the bill on Thursday, saying it would be “disastrous to our state economy.”
The bill the General Assembly passed would have required five days of paid sick time at businesses with 15 or more employees.
The governor proposed a plan to give five days of paid sick time at businesses with 50 or more employees. He also wants to give tax breaks to encourage businesses smaller than that to provide paid sick time.
“For companies of over 50 people – businesses that size already provide that kind of benefit because it’s a competitive advantage,” said State Senator Cheryl Kagan (D – Rockville/Gaithersburg), who plans to vote to override the veto.
She spoke at Tuesday’s rally and says Hogan’s bill won’t help the employees of smaller businesses who need paid sick leave the most.
Speakers at the rally said the bill would be a big help for families who have to take care of sick children.
But Hogan, who pulled off a rare win by a Republican in Maryland in part by running against what he calls excessive burdens on businesses, says the bill was “poorly written” and “deeply flawed.”
“If we allowed this legislation to go into effect next Januaryit would make Maryland less competitive in our region,” Hogan said Thursday while announcing he was vetoing the bill. “It would kill small businesses and jeopardize thousands of Maryland jobs."
There is not likely to be any resolution for the bill until the General Assembly reconvenes in January.
Although it passed both houses with veto-proof majorities, supporters of an override cannot afford to lose even a single vote in the state senate.
The bill passed there with 29 votes, which is the minimum needed to override a veto.
No Republican state senators voted for the bill, and four Democrats joined them in voting no.
