Not so long ago, state Rep. Steven Butterfield used to work in the food service industry, and the Bangor Democrat says he was constantly reminded of the lack of worker benefits at most restaurants.
"There are people who literally have to make the choice between being sick and staying employed, between staying home to take care of their kid, or losing their job," he said.
Butterfield and other members of the Legislature's Labor Committee had a standing-room-only crowd for a work session on a groundbreaking bill that would require Maine businesses to provide paid sick leave for all full and part-time employees.
Among those who turned out in support is Sara Standiford, of the Maine Women's Lobby. "When sick workers come to work sick, they risk spreading disease, not only to co-workers, but to customers, to clients, to everybody who small businesses and large businesses serve, and that's the point that this bill is intended to address."
The bill, originally sponsored by Senate President Libby Mitchell, has since been amended to exempt smaller businesses with fewer than 50 employees. But it still faces stiff opposition from members of the business community who maintain they are hardly in a position to absorb the costs of more workers benefits in the current economy.
"The amended version does not make it easier for members of the business community to go along -- what they've changed is the starting point," says David Clough, of the Maine chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. "They decided initially to start with any employee, then it was talked about maybe 25 employees, now they're talking about starting with 50 employees."
Clough fears that supporters of the paid sick leave bill will continue to amend the measure into any form that will pass, so that a year from now they can change it to something that's more damaging to business.
Even some Democrats on the committee have concerns about what the bill will mean for larger employers. "What has still not gone away in mind mind is what we're going to put on the large employer who's having, still, a hard time meeting payroll, just staying alive," says State Rep. Herbert Clark, a Millinocket Democrat.
Clark says he's pleased that smaller businesses have been exempted. He also supports a change that makes the sick leave accrual rate of one hour for every 80 hours kick in after 180-days on the job, rather than just 90 days.
But Clark says there are still some key people around the State House, including the governor, that he'd like to hear weigh in on the plan. "When this bill is done, we're going to do it right. We're not going to come back year after year. We're going to do it right today or tomorrow, and there's nothing wrong with asking questions. That's how we get the answers, that's how we're going to get to first base at the end of the day. So with that, please try to respond. I want to know where the Department of Labor stands on this bill. I want to know where the guy on the second floor stands on this bill before I sign onto something and put it out one way or the other."
Bill supporter Steven Butterfield, meanwhile, says he's tired of being branded as anti-business because of his position on the paid sick leave issue.
"I get so unbelievably sick and tired of this constant drumbeat that people who bring legislation like this forward, or people who want to do this sort of thing, are doing it because of some reason, I hate small business, I absolutely hate them, I hate all business, I want to see them completely fail and drive them into the ground," Buttefield said. "Well my mom works for a small business, my parents own a small business, I've worked for small businesses, I have good friends who own small businesses. I have no problem whatsoever with them."
The committee chairs hope to report the bill out on Thursday.