Child Care & Paid Family Leave Are Worse in Bad Economy

By Sarah Burris on 11/16/2011 @ 05:15 PM

Tags: Carolyn Maloney, Amy Klobuchar, Women leaders, Women's rights

The State of Young America tells us that the issues plaguing young Americans aren't just bad. They're abysmal. The research project released by DEMOS, details a frightening glimpse into the lives of 18-34 year olds trying to start a life and start a family, particularly young women.

One discouraging fact from the data (page 53): just 11% of all workers had access to paid family leave. When it comes to young women and young families having their first child, a lack of paid family leave can be devastating, and leave new parents no choice but to get back to work right away. Not surprisingly, access to paid family leave depends on job level. If you’ve got the swanky Wall Street job you probably have a greater chance of having paid family leave (17%), where lower wage earners, like those at entry level jobs had a heck of a lot less possibility of paid family leave (5%).

When it comes to child care, you're looking at one of the largest expenses a family often has. Moms already know this, but according to the data, "center-based child care fees for two children (an infant and a 4-year-old) exceeded annual median rent payments in every state" (page 55). And this isn’t just in places like New York City – child care costs for 2 children is more than average rent in all 50 states.

One young mom said, "the lack of affordable child care in California is the main reason my husband had to quit his well-paying full time job. The monthly rate of $900 a month per child for each of our 4 kids exceeded his take home pay. We decided that it didn't make sense for us both to work." More and more children are being cared for by ad-hoc child care arrangements, grandparents or other relatives, or stay at home dads.

We've seen the President take an important step to help many young working Americans, and we must focus on helping young women and families. High child care costs, low wages, and no paid family leave, are all issues women have had for generations. And in a tough economy they don't get better; they get worse.

The Democratic women EMILY’s List supports understand the struggles that families are facing. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit introduced a bill this year that would provide 12 weeks of paid benefits to new parents.

Rep. Maloney said “There couldn’t be a worse time than during an economic downturn to ask parents to choose between a paycheck and their new child or sick family member. Tough times call for strong supports for working families, like paid family and medical leave."

Senator Amy Klobuchar agrees, which is why she pushed to strengthen the Family and Medical Leave Act saying she will fight for workplace flexibility so no one has to lose their jobs. “No parent should have to choose between a paycheck and being with their child at a critical time.”

We couldn’t agree more. With more women in office we’ll have more leaders who understand the difficulties young families are facing during this tough economy. Republican tax cuts for the wealthy aren’t going to help a 28 year old new mother who has to work one job to pay the rent and a second job to pay for child care. We can do better in 2012, and we’re counting on EMILY’s List supporters to help us get there!


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"Tough, Tough, Tough"

By Stephanie Schriock on 11/15/2011 @ 11:15 AM

Tags: Stephanie's Take, Gabrielle Giffords

Last night as I watched the extraordinary story of Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly, there were moments when my eyes filled up. Seeing those pictures of Gabby looking weak in the first weeks after the shooting and watching her struggle is hard. But there were more moments when my fist was up in the air, cheering along with every victory and every milestone and every moment when Gabby's spirit and her big, strong heart reminded me of the woman she is. And then I realized that unconsciously, I was mimicking Gabby -- that unstoppable determination, the glee she takes in a job well done, expressed by that jaunty arm flung out into the world around her like punctuation.

Watching her last night, I saw so clearly the woman we have all come to love so much -- but even tougher, even stronger, and even -- this amazed me -- even more gracious. Her love for her mom, for her husband, for the team around her shine through, in her proud eyes and her ready hugs. Watching Gabby tackle challenges -- again and again -- that would bring any normal person low with resolute calm and total focus was truly inspirational. And hearing her refuse anger and turn away from rage and despondence is awesome.

Like Gabby, I'm a woman of the West -- while Gabby calls herself a daughter of the desert, I'm a daughter of the mountains, and we love that same big wide sky. I love that Gabby rides horses, rides a fast mountain bike -- Hell, Gabby rides a motorcycle. I think not enough people know that, and I'm glad they can learn about it in the book Mark has written, with some help from Gabby. In Gabby's wide smile and her bright eyes last night I heard so much possibility. Wherever that road under the big wide sky takes her, Gabby will be charting her own course -- we learned that for sure last night.

Meanwhile, here at EMILY's List, the community I'm a part of -- which has been Gabby's community, too, since that first race when she laced up her tennis shoes and walked the district -- that determination, that strength and that graciousness will be our north star going forward. We'll channel her grit, her infectious humor, her high standards for herself, and those around her. Because that's what real leadership is -- real leadership, as Gabby's friend Kirsten Gillibrand has said, is knowing that even when you can't control what life brings you, you can control how you react to it.

Gabby's continuing gift to all of us is setting the bar higher, every day, in facing her own hurdles and overcoming them, again and again, for what we can all accomplish. Gabby, we thank you again and again, for your service, your spirit, and your example for all of us -- now and in the future -- of what human beings are capable of.

Send a message of support to Gabby

"You're beat up, but not beaten"

By Sarah Burris on 11/15/2011 @ 07:15 AM

Tags: Why women, Gabrielle Giffords

We will never forget the tragic day in January when our friend, Cong. Gabrielle Giffords, was attacked, along with members of her team and her beloved community in Tucson. But we’ll also never forget the powerful example Gabby’s set in the days and months since – awing us all with her determination, grit, and deep love for her family, her community, and her country. Whether walking up the plane stairs to see husband Mark Kelly’s final Space Shuttle mission or walking on to the House floor to cast a critical vote, Gabby is always moving forward.

Monday, Diane Sawyer spoke about her interview with Gabby, and we were all struck by the amazing strides that Gabby has made in the last 10 months.

As Gabby’s husband Mark Kelly says, Gabby was “beat up, but not beaten,” and we couldn’t agree more. She is an amazing fighter, a devoted public servant, and a passionate advocate for democracy and free speech.

As Gabby continues on her road to recovery, we all at EMILY’s List want to remind her: she does not travel alone. Gabby’s amazing fight inspires all of us, and we all stand behind her.

Please join EMILY’s List in celebrating the amazing recovery Gabby Giffords has made and continues to make, and thanking her for her unwavering commitment. We will ensure that she receives your message.

News of Note This Week: Election Day Round-Up

By Karyn Bruggeman and Traci Snyder on 11/14/2011 @ 05:13 PM

Tags: News of Note, Tammy Duckworth, Suzanne Bonamici, Elizabeth Warren, Lois Frankel, Why women, Choice

• Just in time for Veteran’s Day, the Illinois National Guard promoted Iraq War veteran and IL-08 congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Congratulations Tammy! Make sure to check out Tammy’s Veteran’s Day guest post on the EMILY’s List Blog.
• Election night brought some great wins for women last Tuesday. Suzanne Bonamici, an EMILY’s List recommended candidate, won her special election primary in OR-01. Now she’s on her way to the general where she’ll face self-described Tea Party Republican Rob Cornilles. Support Suzanne in her January 31 special election.
• Women across the country breathed a small sigh of relief last week when Mississippi voters rejected the “Personhood Amendment.” RH Reality Check provides an in-depth summary of the defeat, what it means for women and the future fight for reproductive health care. Remember, the fight is nowhere near over as the War on Women continues, as The New Yorker’s excellent article on the right’s battle against Planned Parenthood.
• We celebrated great victories for firefighters, nurses, teachers, voters, and reproductive rights in Ohio, Maine, and Mississippi last Tuesday! But there is still a lot of work to be done at the state level. The results from Virginia’s state House and Senate races are exhibit A. From the Washington Post- What a Republican Win Means for Virginia.
• Elizabeth Warren is up with her first ad after Karl Rove began using his Crossroads GPS to attack Elizabeth on the air. She’s telling her story to the people and urging them to get to know her leadership through her own words. Check out her new ad:
  
• Allen West is at it again. First, he’s proud of his sexist comments towards Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Now, he’s proud of belonging to a white supremacist motorcycle gang. Know who we are proud of? Lois Frankel, the EMILY’s List recommended candidate seeking to unseat West in FL-22 and ensure that Florida is represented by a member of Congress who is proud of serving their constituents, not offending them. Learn more about Lois Frankel and how to support her campaign.

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By Tammy Duckworth on 11/11/2011 @ 09:15 AM

Tags: Tammy Duckworth

Veterans Day is a time to celebrate the men and women who have worn this nation's uniform and to honor their service. When the nation called and asked, "Who among you will step forward and defend the Constitution? Who will leave your families, your home in order to protect what we hold most dear?" it was our servicemen and women who answered that call and said, "I will. I will leave all that I hold most dear in order to protect liberty for others, for those who I will never meet. And if I must, I will lay down my life to protect this nation that is a beacon of Democracy all."

Today, less than one percent of our nation serves in uniform. These men and women, along with their families, have sacrificed so much for us. That's why today should also be a time for all of us, as a nation, to think about what we can do in return. Even as we are bombarded with Veterans Day sales and shopping discounts, our Veterans struggle with trauma born of their service. They are looking for jobs so they can support their families. For those currently standing their watch in hostile fronts around the world, they look homeward and wonder if the nation will be there for them upon their return. Our Vietnam Veterans and our Veterans of The Forgotten War in Korea know what it is like to come back to a nation that does not always remember or honor their service. Fortunately, our nation has grown beyond this terrible past, thanks to the leadership of these same Veterans who have been there to welcome home my comrades from Iraq and Afghanistan. We owe it to all our Veterans to make sure they have a chance to achieve the American Dream, just like the rest of us.

As a nation, we need to do everything we can to make sure those who have served have the tools they need to succeed in civilian life. As individuals, I encourage all of you to find ways to thank and serve our Veterans. To get started, you can check out this list of resources on my website.

While you and I go on with our daily lives, remember that tonight--indeed at this very moment--there are men and women who are resolutely manning their posts, answering our nation's call. There is a popular saying among Veterans that our service members write a check to the nation for payment at a cost up to and including their lives. Our military men and women are our greatest national treasure. They should be safeguarded as such upon their return. They have never asked to be thanked, but we can never thank them enough.

Learn more about Tammy Duckworth here, and help her campaign for Congress in Illinois.