Sen. Haskell: "Mainers lose as paid sick time bill killed"

Sen. Anne Haskell, D-Portland.

AUGUSTA — Nearly 200,000 Mainers will continue to have to choose between their paychecks and their health after Republicans on the Legislative Council on Thursday blocked a bill by Sen. Anne Haskell that would have allowed them to earn paid sick leave.

The bill — LR 2497, “An Act to Strengthen the Economic Well-being of Maine’s Workforce by Ensuring Employees Can Earn Paid Sick Time” — would have ensured that workers at companies with 11 or more employees have the ability to earn up to seven days of paid sick time per year.

Republicans on the Legislative Council voted in October to block the bill from a fair hearing in the House and Senate, and continued to block the bill on Thursday when Haskell, a Portland Democrat, appealed the Council’s decision.

“This bill is desperately needed by the thousands of Maine people who are working full time and playing by the rules, but can be set back for months or even years because of an unexpected illness or injury,” Haskell said. “Without paid sick leave, workers not only lose pay, but face potential disciplinary action or even firing for calling in sick. Those workers deserve better, and I’m saddened that today, politicians let them down.”

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