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By the way, I didn't know I wouldn't be able to post my actual name above...so the above post was written by Jillian Starr!

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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When my child was born two years ago, I could afford to stay at home full time. And when I brought my child home from the hospital I was initiated into the club of parenthood, when you realize that life as a parent so often does not conform to the neat, organized life of society.  Because of concerns about milk supply and weight loss, there were daily pediatrician visits along with a medically prescribed routine of breastfeeding, breastpumping and formula supplementing.  Anyone who’s ever had to do this while struggling with the realities of new parenthood knows how exhausting and overwhelming it can be.  I cannot imagine doing what I did and having to worry about going  back to work, losing my job, or paying the bills. And I had it very easy, when you consider that there are parents dealing with larger, more overwhelming and more costly medical issues, or overwhelming financial issues. Paid family leave provides people, particularly women, an equal opportunity to keep a foothold in the workplace while also allowing this next generation of American children to develop the necessary bond with their respective families.

I cannot understand why J.L. Wilson and Associated Oregon Industries declares this bill as government at its worst.  It seems that the bill is carefully written to avoid costly administrative overhead as well as to avoid costs to both large and small businesses. So what then is bad about providing an insurance option to mothers of newborns?  And since this bill is also insurance for the care of a sick spouse or relative, it’s not discriminatory but in fact an insurance option that most members of our society can utilize. I feel that J.L. Wilson does not understand the true needs of mothers, women, newborns and families, and I urge AOI to reach out to mothers of all backgrounds and discover the hardships that every new parent faces.

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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