Sick Leave: The anti-family legislation beauty pageant/drag race

As the suburbs clamor to reassure business leaders by repealing in advance any "threat" of a sick pay rule in their pro-pro-pro-business enclaves, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel letter writer reminds us of a legislative reality apparently overlooked by the suburbs who want to pre-void the rule, as well as a moral principle that seems to have gone by the wayside.

In the meantime, as long as so many suburbs are racing one another to kill family-friendly legislation before it is even proposed in their cities, maybe business groups like The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce need to grade suburbs on how quickly  and cheerfully they adopted their particular anti-sick leave measure and give style points as well.

Hurry, fellow suburbs!

Economic realities acknowledged

Editorial columnist Patrick McIlheran suggested in the Jan. 7 column "More people shafted by sick pay rule" that the paid sick leave ordinance - passed by 69% of Milwaukee voters - is an example of a "runaway democracy" that fails to take into account economic realities.

No doubt economic realities need to be taken seriously, which is why the ordinance calls for a 90-day period to draft implementation laws so that concerns voiced by employers can be addressed. Our actions speak to our values, as do the laws we create. By passing the paid sick leave ordinance, Milwaukeeans made a statement that a sense of responsibility for others still exists.

According to our faith traditions, the highest form of charity is the one that helps a person rise out of poverty - an effort dignifying to both parties. Milwaukee's defense of family-supporting jobs does not weaken our economy; it brings us closer to a just economy and world.

Far from being a case of "runaway democracy," the 90-day rule of the paid sick leave ordinance invites democratic cooperation to explore ways to build a strong business community that expresses our most cherished values.

David Baruch
Milwaukee