House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, R-Norwalk, and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, just held a news conference outside the Senate chamber during which they complained that Democratic support for the so-called paid sick days legislation, which has failed in recent years, sends the wrong message to business. Supporters of the bill say that it’s a necessary benefit and will keep people who are contagious from showing up at work.
“For God’s sake, our business community needs help,” Cafero said. “Sadly, we’re back to business as usual,” McKinney said, charging that as majority Democrats have adopted the mantra of “jobs,” the law requiring paid sick days sends another signal to businesses that are hurting. “These are businesses that live day-to-day,” McKinney said. “Their doors will close and hundreds of people will lose their jobs.” He asked Democratic leaders for an “unequivocal statement that this bill is dead.”