Today, Congressman Alan Grayson (Florida’s 9th Congressional District) commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, while calling for its expansion.
Grayson, who was joined by several members of Organize Now at a press conference outside the Orange County Administration Building said, despite FMLA which offers twelve weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave, many Americans still cannot afford to take unpaid leave.
Grayson also recalled the paid sick leave fiasco in 2012, where despite more than 50,000 signatures collected to have the measure placed on the election ballot, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and county commissioners maneuvered to block the vote. He said it is ironic that the same County Commission was discussing now a package of $60 million for supporting arts and sports venues.
“It’s shockingly insensitive hypocrisy,” Grayson said, the Orlando Sentinel reported. “What it shows is that once you open the door to corporate welfare, there’s never any end to it. All they want is more and more and more.”
“It’s reverse Robin Hoods. It has to end,” Grayson added.
