January 27, 2016 03:59 PM UTC

GOP Rep. Demonstrates Need For Parental Leave, Then Votes No

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• by: Colorado Pols

A press release from the Colorado House Democratic majority highlights a bill moving through that chamber to expand parental leave rights for Colorado workers–and contains an amusing twist:

A bill by Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, to allow parents to take unpaid leave to attend their children’s essential academic activities passed the Education Committee on a party line vote this morning. HB16-1002, Rep. Buckner’s first bill of her legislative career, reenacts the 2009 “Parental Involvement in K-12 Education Act,” which sunset in 2015.

“The bill takes the simple, common-sense step to ensure that working parents can take unpaid time off work to attend their children’s academic activities,” said Rep. Buckner. “I know the kids of Aurora and Colorado deserve every opportunity to succeed. I’m excited to get this important bill for working families past the first step in the process and look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to make it law. Frankly, I’m disappointed that House Republicans joined in lockstep to oppose this simple, common-sense bill to help working families. In my first bill it was really sad to see my fellow legislators put politics before kids and parents.”

The kicker?

The hearing on the bill began on Monday, Jan. 25, but was laid over when Rep. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, asked for a delay because, ironically, he needed to take his child to a doctor’s appointment. [Pols emphasis] Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, Chair of the House Education Committee permitted the delay, reminding the room that many parents in Colorado do not have the luxury to rearrange work for their children’s needs, which is why this bill is so badly needed.

The hearing resumed today with the expectation that it would be a quick vote on a single amendment and then the bill. But the conversation was drawn out, first over an amendment proposed by GOP Rep. Joann Windholz, R-Commerce City, to remove a section to have schools notify parents of their right to ask for leave. Educators presented testimony on Monday that parental involvement is crucial, and that parents deserve to know their rights as it relates to staying involved with school activities. The amendment failed on a party line vote.

Republicans continued to belabor the point, insisting that this bill would affect businesses, despite the fact that the bill was law for over five years with no negative consequences.

This legislation is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled House, but its fate in the GOP-controlled Senate is uncertain at best. This is an issue where Republicans should tread more carefully, given the competing interests of business and “family values” that plainly conflict in this bill. But as Rep. Kevin Priola’s unintentional validation of the need for it demonstrates–even more by his subsequent no vote on the bill–the political danger in opposing parental leave is not apparent to them.

The latter happens all the time, but they don’t always undercut themselves so ironically.