The Senate bucked majority leadership on Thursday to pass a symbolic vote in favor of paid sick days.
In defiance of Senate Budget Committee chair Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Republicans joined Democrats to to approve of the resolution 61-39.
The amendment to establish a “deficit neutral reserve fund” for paid sick time, proposed by Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee ranking member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), came amid an annual theatric series of budget resolutions—the creatively named “Vote-a-rama.”
Politico described the yearly string of votes as a “charade,” albeit one that could have an impact in 2016. Joining Democrats to carry the measure were more moderate Republicans, including those who might fear a challenge from the left during the presidential year campaign–in recent years, when the White House has been at stake, there has been increased turnout among younger, more left leaning voters.
In favor of Murray’s amendment were Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
Enzi decried the proposal as a “one-size-fits approach,” according to The Hill, and claimed that paid leave only works when it’s “voluntary.”
“Voluntary paid leave programs work precisely because they are voluntary, thereby offering flexibility” he said. “The one-size-fits approach does not permit the flexibility we need to help all kinds of businesses, all kinds of employers, workers.”
Murray enthused on Twitter about her amendment, saying it would, if enacted, allow workers to accrue seven days of paid leave over a year.
“Paid sick days boost productivity, expand economic security, & still, 43 million of our workers don’t have access to paid leave #LeadOnLeave,” she also tweeted.
