Democrats Balk at Rubio-Ivanka Paid Leave Proposal

House Democrats are resisting the latest paid leave idea concocted by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ivanka Trump.

At a Democratic roundtable on paid leave today at the Capitol, Democrats and their allies criticized Rubio's framework, which would allow people to dip into Social Security benefits to care for a new child or sick family member, saying it wouldn't be sustainable and — in its purest form — wouldn't give workers paid time off.

Instead, they reaffirmed their support for the "FAMILY Act," S. 337 (115), by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), which would provide 12 weeks' paid leave through a hike in payroll taxes, the cost of which would be split between employers and employees.

Democrats hold unique sway on paid leave, given that Republican supporters — vastly outnumbered in their own party — would need a majority of Democratic support to get a bill to President Donald Trump's desk. At the meeting today, one Democrat even suggested stalling on paid leave to see whether Democrats seize the House in November.

“I was quite alarmed when I read Rubio’s proposal," said Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.). “We have some incredible initiatives out there, that we think when the Democrats take control in ’18 will be part of our agenda.”

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the ranking member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, said the Rubio-Trump plan wouldn't go over well with voters, citing data from Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, who spoke at the meeting.

"It is wildly unpopular," Scott told POLITICO. "People know that Social Security is strained already, and they're counting on it. So adding pressure to it, it cannot be popular."

"You get a sense legislatively when you have the votes to pass it, and there's not much purpose in calling a bill up when you don't have the votes," he added.

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