Anne Geggis
After the fall of Roe v. Wade, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is highlighting his legislation to help make parenthood more affordable, but it’s getting criticized for how it would drain parents’ eventual retirement.
A key provision of Rubio’s “Providing for Life Act” announced last week would provide for parents taking time off from work upon the birth or adoption of a child. Rubio’s legislation would allow these parents to get three months of their Social Security decades ahead of time to finance parental leave.
Current U.S. law provides only that these parents get 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave with health benefits. About 23% of the private sector workforce has access to paid family leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“We need to adopt pro-life policies that support families, rather than destroy them,” Rubio’s prepared statement said, citing the Supreme Court ruling, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. “This comprehensive legislation would make a real difference to American parents and children in need.”
Critics, however, piled on, labeling the effort a gimmick.
“Social Security is a lifeline for seniors and the disabled, not a slush fund that politicians like Marco Rubio can use for their political goals,” said Janice Poirier, President of the Florida Education Association’s retired chapter. “Rubio’s plan forces parents to pay for family leave with their own Social Security benefits. That’s not a pro-family agenda, that’s a scam.”
Rubio has been talking about the Social Security idea since 2018, when he introduced the Economic Security for New Parents Act. Now it’s one of a number of legislative efforts he outlined in the Washington Examiner last week.
Rubio also wants to expand the child tax credit for working families, allow pregnant mothers to claim the child tax credit for unborn babies and strengthen child support enforcement rules.
“What we need is a pro-life plan for post-Roe America,” Rubio wrote in the newspaper.
Rubio has long represented the most restrictive position on abortion. He has argued life begins at conception and was among the first national politicians to publicly contend that those impregnated by rape and incest should not have a right to abort the pregnancy. Before he made the contention on the presidential debate stage in 2015, the standard Republican position was that abortion bans should make exceptions for these victims.
U.S. Rep. Val Demings, Rubio’s likely General Election opponent, has tagged him as an “extremist” on abortion.
Jon Bauman, now the president of Social Security Works PAC, said Rubio’s plan is working at the wrong end of these problems.
“No one should be forced to choose between taking care of their loved ones today and enjoying a secure retirement tomorrow,” Bauman said in a prepared statement. “Instead, parents need real paid leave, and women need the right to control their own bodies. Rubio disgracefully opposes both.”
7 comments
PeterH
June 30, 2022 at 7:16 pm
Where has Marco Rubio been hiding? USA businesses are currently short 11,000,000 new workers. In South Florida workers are in such demand that 1/3 of popular Lincoln Road Mall shops and restaurants are closed ….. not because of Covid …. but because the employers can’t find workers.
Grifting money from Social Security is not the way to go. Social Security is already at risk because Congress relentlessly siphons money for special projects.
As is typical in other red states.around the USA …… Florida is the number 3 recipient of Federal Funds. For every dollar Florida sends to Washington the State receives close to $5.00 in return. We’re already a dependent nanny state. Let’s remember that currently 33% of Florida residents live below the poverty level and 25% depend on Medicaid for survival. Florida doesn’t need another unwanted child living in poverty.
Additionally Marco …. what happens when the grifted Social Security money runs out after three months. Guess what? The working mom now needs to find child care. The average cost of child care in Florida is $1300.00 per month per child. Where does that money magically come from.
There are many reasons why unwanted pregnancies are terminated. One half of the terminated pregnancies are working moms who understand the family’s budgetary constraints. The “choice” should be left up to women who must make difficult decisions with her doctor and family. Today’s Republican Party should stay out of these personal decisions.
ScienceBLVR
June 30, 2022 at 9:08 pm
So true, PH. Marco just seems to bounce from one wacky idea to another. I would think this wouldn’t be so popular with the currently retired folks here in Florida, either. Take out of the Villages pot to feed the kids having kids? Nope..Who’s running his campaign?
Just a comment
July 3, 2022 at 9:15 am
This thing will be insolvent due to criminals stealing for their migration for most likely bad things
Just a comment
July 3, 2022 at 3:26 pm
I have no control but 800 a month best at the time of pregnancy leave is small best yet give a tax free 401k withdrawal
YYep
July 3, 2022 at 3:28 pm
A 401 k leave withdrawal is better then a 2 Dollar a month ss check ✔️
Yeah
July 4, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Borrowing is just another conspiracy to k the elderly person that they hate so much
Clay T. White
July 6, 2022 at 6:20 am
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