http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#41641 I haven't taken a vacation in two years. I have taken a day or two off attached to my weekends to visit family. I just now have 200 hours of vacation and 190 hours of sick. I have been sick a couple of times this year and have had the normal doctor appts. I am not pregnant, but would like to start a family. With that being said I will still have to keep saving to cover maternity. So, I guess everyone who is against this just believes that if you want a family then you do not deserve any vacations or sick leave for any other reason. I can only assume (because I have no other way of knowing) that the people on here that are against it are against families and children in general. While there are many companies that do not offer maternity leave, the employees are able to pay into stated disability or some other disability insurance that provides money during the maternity period. As federal employess we get nothing besides our saved leave!... 41641@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:25:01 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#40614 Seriously people?! 8 weeks of PAID leave isn't that big a deal. The government is already set to pay these women as it is (assuming no pregnancy). All this is going to do is relieve stress and financial hardship on the (most likely) underpaid federal employees. Women need time to recover and care for their newborn children.... 40614@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:25:10 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#40562 When I got out I ended up having to very young children while starting off with the federal government. As soon as my daughter started daycare, she caught ammonia and I had to take off a month. My son caught RSV at the daycare, and I had to take of another few weeks for him. My children went to a very nice, very well kept daycare. Unfortunately, that's what happens when children attend a daycare they get sick, it's inevitable. I've also had to take off for all their doctor's appointments they've had, and when kids are that young, they go to the doctor's regularly. And, I do recall eating at an Olive Garden for a company Christmas part which made half of the department sick and I had to take off a week for that. In-between all these there were other reasons for taking leave that were out of my control, i.e. death in the family. How in the heck was I supposed to save up 6 weeks in three years?... 40562@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:23:01 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#40561 So Fargo and Captain, or let me just make it easy and say Captain Fargo. So women are supposed to wait 8 years of employment before having a child. Well, let's say these women have children already, two, like I do. Are we to assume they didn't have to take off due to any sickness their children might have endured in the past years. I've only been with the federal government for three years, was I really supposed to wait 8 years before having my third child. I had both my other children while serving in the Army.... 40561@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:22:41 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#40045 I work for the second largest department in the federal government and in addition to very adequate leave benefits, several programs exist to allow for the advance of sick or annual leave to ensure this happens. and as for expanding the leave donor program, I am firmly against. In my experience, if the people you work with directly are not willing to donate leave to you to help you through a tough time, it is probably because you are a bad employee and eveyone wants you gone anyway. Good ridance to bad employees, -everyone knows the federal government has more than its share.... 40045@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:27:59 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#40044 I agree with Captain entirely. A fed gets 13 days of sick and 13 days of vacation on day 1 and even more if employed for more than three years. This means that in 8 years as previously referenced, and employee could save up 42 weeks of leave. Isn't normal maternity leave only 6 weeks? The issue is that people in the federal government waste sick leave, and I wouldn't promote that. And federal government retirement, -the private sector should be so lucky. Have fun finding a guaranteed pension elsewhere.... 40044@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:12:31 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#39793 I agree with Sher! I would be more concerned with my tax dollars going to someone that is milking the system, rather than to a federal employee who is working for my country. Our healthcare and school systems are overburden with people that don’t even contribute to our economy. Illegal people use up a big chunk of these resources….that’s who we need to be concerned with. Not federal employees, who by the way are U.S. citizen and tax paying people.... 39793@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:40:04 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#39262 I am a muslim and I don't really care about the Citizens of this country, I worked in a terrorist training camp, and I am best friends with Osama Bin Ladin... 39262@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:08:43 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#39254 Let's see, with my tax dollars I have to pay for hoochies on welfare, WIC, Medicare and FoodStamps... Oh lets not forget how my daughter could not get into Pre-K because it was geared for low income family. So when does the hardworking mom get a break?... 39254@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:16:02 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#39214 I bet most of the men on here are single, and don't have kids. If they are married, or do have kids, I feel sorry for their families. I'd shoot myself if my father or husband was as arrogant as these pricks!... 39214@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:04:34 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38948 Most private businesses do NOT offer this sort of benefit. Employees must save up regular PTO and use that. This is another example of how out of touch our government employees are. The taxpayer is tired of being your benefactor. If you think it is so great in the private sector then get a real job.... 38948@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:17:19 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38893 I am a current federal employee who happens to be pregnant but should already have enough leave built for 4 weeks off. I am at a higher salary than I believe most fed. employees are but the benefits are definitely that great. We have fairly inexpensive health insurance but only one of the plans offered covers dental and it's only cleanings 2 times year. Our gov't needs to make a big change, and not let the minority rule the majority, not give as many handouts to lazy people who don't want to work, and actually do something about the soaring oil costs.... 38893@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:18:33 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38344 Captain. Why don't you go shoot yourself you miserable a**hole.... 38344@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:02:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38339 the military already gets this luxury.....don't be dumb.... 38339@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:54:56 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38311 I am a PREGNANT federal employee, do not get paid much (less than 40k) and it takes me 1 month to earn 2 days of leave (sick & annual)!! It takes forever to earn this leave. And every monthly appt. I have to use that earned leave....it's not as easy as you all think. I denied the federal health benefits because they are so expensive and am on my husband's insurance. The government benefits are not all that they are cracked up to be. I haven't had a vacation in forever and there are days when my back is killing me and I would love to take a few hours off....but missing a half a day means an entire two weeks of earned annual!? I worked in the private sector before this where I earned more leave/pay period and a portion of maternity leave was paid. This is definitely a great start for the federal government and to encourage other employers to do that same.... 38311@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:53:18 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38287 I completely aggree with Jeni. A woman has a child, and is typically out for six to eight weeks, if no complications. How is this different than a disability? As federal workers, we cannot apply for State disability coverage, but certainly, the federal government wants these mothers back to work for them, rather than loose them to their competetors for workers. Women are a large part of the work force. We aren't going to give up our right to a family. I feel sorry for all of those that don't support this bill. It is finally a step in the direction of supporting families in a time that they truely need it.... 38287@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:34:59 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38286 I am a federal worker as well as a veteran. I had my first child on active duty, and was well taken care of. As a DoA civilian, I do earn sick and annual leave, but with a toddler at home, I use that leave often for her misc illnesses. I am now pregnant with my second child. What little leave I have, I typically use with my OB appointments. I did not plan this pregnancy, it just happened. And I am thrilled. However, I do not get paid maternity leave, and neither does my husband (also DoA Civilian). If I were to take no leave until my baby is born, I won't even have a week. I can't afford to not get paid for six weeks, which is the youngest age daycare will except. It is not YOUR fault that I am a "poor planner" or "financially insecure federal worker". However, it is my employers fault that I won't be paid for six weeks. Certainly, I am not expected to abort or abandon my child because my employer doesn't offer paid maternity leave.... 38286@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:29:48 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38264 3) And finally to “dem in TX”, I know you have never, ever lifted a finger to defend this country, and I know you did not lose a relative in 9/11, I know you haven’t lost friends in the war and I know you aren’t a disabled veteran, I am have suffered all those things. All that $$ for the war, as we say in New York, “it’s the price of doing business”, and now you know the price I have paid for your freedom!... 38264@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:55:34 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38263 2) If someone makes a decision to have a child, he or she should be able to afford that child, just like if I want a fancy car, I have to be able to afford the insurance, otherwise just because I can have the car doesn’t mean I should. As a taxpayer I should not be “charged extra” to support your child. In the private sector, it’s all-good; it’s their profit they risk, not my tax dollars. (cont)... 38263@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:55:12 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38262 Right now you are saying to yourself, “dude that isn’t going to happen”, well let me tell you a story, my department has 2 divisions, one division (not mine) had a birthday party every month for those celebrating their birthday that month, and everything was donated by that division, this had been going on for years. Well my division hired a new lady, older about 55-experienced-FE, the 1st month here she filed a complaint that one division celebrates birthdays and the other doesn’t and it’s not fair. I KID YOU NOT, so now either we have a department party or not at all, sad right. So for every new entitlement that’s $850 MILLION dollars. (cont)... 38262@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:54:41 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38261 Some of you are missing quite a few points here. 1) If you have an entitlement for one group you must have entitlement for other groups, what about the federal employee who adopts a child, why shouldn’t they get 8 weeks also, how about the FE who has to move-in their parent because they cannot live alone anymore, where is their 8 weeks. (cont)... 38261@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:54:08 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38191 The Government must pay for its administrative activities, along with Federal law enforcement and Federal prisons, payments to the Postal Service, aid to small businesses, and mortgage financing insurance. The Government provides funds for crop subsidies, agricultural research, and conservation of farmland.... 38191@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:25:48 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38190 There are other Federal Government services including protection of natural resources, environmental protection, and maintenance of recreation areas and public lands, there is assistance to foreign countries, disaster relief and community and regional development, energy research, development, and conservation, and space exploration.... 38190@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:25:17 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38189 Income security programs, including unemployment compensation, retirement and disability programs, and benefits such as food stamps and housing subsidies, also come from Federal Government revenues. The Federal Government spends money on health care, including assistance for the poor through the Medicaid program, the training of health care professionals, and medical research activities. Programs for education also get funded by Federal revenues. Veterans receive benefits from the Federal Government. Transportation for constructing highways, mass transit systems, and airports, the costs of operating the Coast Guard, airways, and assistance to railroads and shipping are additional areas.... 38189@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:24:44 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5781.html#38188 Just another way to supress women...... 38188@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:03:43 EDT