The Republican gubernatorial candidate is proposing to
extend the benefit for families welcoming a new child from eight to 12 weeks
and promises to fund the measure through his "Operation Zero Waste"
plan, without creating new taxes.
California could expand its paid family leave program from
eight to 12 weeks if Steve Hilton's proposal becomes public policy.
The Republican candidate for governor of California included
among his proposals an expansion of benefits for parents welcoming a baby, with
the goal of giving them more time to be with their children during the first
weeks of life.
Currently, the state's Paid Family Leave program allows
eligible workers to receive financial benefits for up to eight weeks to bond
with a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or attend to certain
situations related to a family member's military service. The program is funded
through worker contributions to the state's Disability Insurance system.
Hilton's proposal includes extending maternity leave to 12
weeks and adding a "Home Help Guarantee," through which new parents
could receive support from qualified local professionals, including home visits
and other postpartum services.
This proposal is part of Hilton's economic agenda, and he
maintains that these measures can be implemented without raising taxes on
Californians.
To fund his proposals, the candidate has introduced
"Operation Zero Waste," a plan to reduce public spending by
eliminating what he considers unnecessary expenditures within the state
government. Among the measures he has mentioned are the cancellation of the
high-speed rail project and a reduction in government staff.
That is precisely Hilton's strategy: to expand benefits for
new parents, but to pay for the measure through cuts and savings derived from
his "Operation Zero Waste" plan.