PIECE OF LEGISLATION -- ADAM: THAT IS TIME.
DAVE: IN YOUR CAMPAIGN YOU EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT OF PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, ALLOWING SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE OF A SICK RELATIVE WITHOUT LOSING INCOME.
WHEN THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL ALONG THOSE LINES, YO VOICED YOUR OPPOSITION AND IT DIED IN THE SENATE.
NOW IN THIS CAMPAIGN YOU ARE AGAINST STATING SUPPORT FOR A PROGRAM OF PAID FINLEY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.
-- FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.
WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM WOULD YOU SUPPORT?
GOV. SUNUNU: I SUPPORT THE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.
OF COURSE IT IS NOT A VACATION.
THE DEMOCRATS TWISTED THEIR BILL INTO AN INCOME TAX, WHICH IS NEVER IN THE INTEREST OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
MY PLAN IS VERY SIMPLE.
WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
MY PLAN WILL INCLUDE STATE EMPLOYEES, HERS DOES NOT.
MY PLAN HAS NO START UP COSTS, HERS HAS ALMOST 20 MILLION IN STARTUP COSTS.
WHEN THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE STATE WENT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT CERTIFY IT BE FINANCIALLY SOLVENT.
HOW COULD AS A GOVERNOR YOU SUPPORT A PLAN KNOWING A SINGLE MOM MIGHT PAY INTO THE PLAN AND YEARS LATER THAT MONEY IS NOT THERE FOR HER?
WE PROVIDED A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
EMPLOYEES CAN OPT IN OR OUT.
IT IS AN EXCITING TIME, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE A NEW MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND IT DOESN’T CREATE AN INCOME TAX.
>> YOU HAVE MADE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE A CENTERPIECE OF YOUR CAMPAIGN.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE DETAILS OF WHAT PLAN TO SUPPORT.
DON’T YOU AGREE THE GOVERNOR HAS VALID CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLAN IN THE LEGISLATURE?
SEN. KELLY: THE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE IS IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.
IT PASSED THREE TIMES BIPARTISAN IN THE HOUSE, THEN MY OPPONENT STOPPED IT IN THE SENATE MY OPPONENT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT PLAN FOR.
HE HAD A REPUBLICAN HOUSE, A REPUBLICAN SENATE.
NOW HE IS TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER PLAN.
HE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE NEED TO BUILD ON THE HOUSE PLAN WE HAVE AND FORWARD.
I AS GOVERNOR WILL MAKE PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE A REALITY BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLY ABOUT PEOPLE BEING WITH THOSE THEY LOVE THE MOST WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED THE MOST WITHOUT HAVING
TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOB, NOT PAY THEIR MORTGAGE, OR PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
THE HOUSE BILL THAT PASSED THREE TIMES BIPARTISAN IS A GOOD DEAL TO MOVE FORWARD.
THAT IS MY PLAN.
GOV. SUNUN MY OPPONENT TALKED ABOUT HOW PASSIONATE SHE IS ABOUT PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.
I’M CONCERNED WE HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT WOULD NOT LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS EVEN THOUGH THE PLAN COULD GO BANKRUPT.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY MY OPPONENT WOULD SUPPORT SUCH A PLAN.
TWICE WHEN SHE WAS A STATE SENATOR IN 2007, 2009, THIS BILL WAS PUT FORWARD.
TH DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED THE HOUSE AND SENATE, YET SHE DID NOT EVEN COSPONSORED IT.
SEN. KELLY: I DO SUPPORT PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE AND WILL MAKE IT A REALITY.
MY OPPONENT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, DIDN’T DO IT, AND LATER CALLED IT A VACATION.
I DO QUESTION THE COMMITMENT TO PUTTING FORTH PAID FAMILY LEAVE.
CALLING THIS AN INCOME TAX IS AN OLD PAY OUT OF SOME PLAYBOOK THAT ANYTIME A REPUBLICAN HAS NO ANSWER AS TO WHERE TO GO, THEY USE THIS AS A POLITICAL PLOY AND CALL IT AN INCOME TAX.
GOV. SUNUNU: MY HAD THE CHANCE TO SUPPORT IT AS A SENATOR, DIDN’T EVEN PUT HER NAME ON IT TO COSPONSOR IT.
WHEN YOU NEED A PUBLIC NOTARY TO CERTIFY YOU GETTING OUT OF THE TAX, THAT IS TRAPPING EVERYBODY IN.