Family and Medical Leave Act Day

PRESS RELEASE September 23, 1996 FORTY-FOUR STATES TO HOLD “FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE DAY” NEWS EVENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON’S LAW WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Clinton/Gore campaign today announced that it will celebrate “Family and Medical Leave Day,” on September 24, 1996. On this day, family advocates, business leaders and key legislators across the nation will hold news events in 44 states highlighting the success of President Clinton’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), said Clinton/Gore Campaign Manager Peter S. Knight. September 24 marks the fourth anniversary of Bob Dole’s vote to sustain then-President George Bush’s veto of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The Act enables workers to take unpaid leave to care for a family member without fear of losing their jobs. President Clinton, Vice President Gore, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Tipper Gore will kick-off these nationwide efforts at events in New Jersey, Louisiana, Connecticut and Tennessee, respectively, on the 24th. “No other piece of legislation has had a more immediate impact on the American family’s ability to stay together in times of critical need. President Clinton’s decisive leadership cut through the special interest politicking that had stalled earlier efforts, and, with passage of the Act, he demonstrated that what’s good for the American family is good for business,” said Knight. Knight talked about other elements of President Clinton’s strong pro-family record, citing the President’s expansion of the Earned Income Tax credit, which provides tax relief for 15 million working families; signing into law the first increase in the minimum wage in five years; and investment in education through the Goals 2000 initiative. Also, in addition to making the FMLA the first piece of legislation the President signed upon taking office in 1992, President Clinton recently proposed an expansion of the Act. In the face of clear evidence that the FMLA has not negatively impacted businesses but has helped millions of working Americans attend to family emergencies, and, in general, balance the competing demands of work and family, Bob Dole continues to speak out against family and medical leave, most recently on September 7th in a campaign speech. Some of the events and participants include a roundtable at Mile High Medical Child Care Center in Colorado featuring Gail Schoettler who is the Colorado Lt. Governor and Diana DeGette who is a Colorado candidate. In Florida, there will be a news conference at Wackenhutt Security Firm in West Palm Beach with Lawton Chiles, who is the Governor of Florida. In Minnesota, Ellen Anderson, Jane Ranum, Carol Flynn, Linda Berglin, Karen Clark, and Donna Robertson, who are current or former state legislators, will participate in a news conference at the State Capitol. Each event will feature people who have been affected by the FMLA. ### State-by-State Family Medical Leave Act Events ALABAMA: Activity: Press conference outside local Children’s Hospital, in Birmingham Surrogates: Marsha Folsom, former First Lady, State Sen. E.B. McLain, Lorane LeGrange, BellSouth employee and FMLA beneficiary ALASKA: Activity: Roundtable at a day care center Surrogates: State Rep. Kay Brown, Deborah Bonito, State Party Chair, and family ARIZONA: Activity: Roundtable with city worker and labor leaders, in Phoenix Surrogates: Craig Tripken, City Council, Lisa Hubbard, FMLA beneficiary, Labor leaders, Pro-FMLA business owner CALIFORNIA: Activity 1: Press conference with a family physician and families, Contra Costa County. Surrogate: Dr. Ellen Tauscher, family physician and Congressional candidate Activity 2: Roundtable discussion, San Diego. Surrogates: Peter Navarro, Congressional candidate Activity 3: Press conference at children’s park, Santa Barbara. Surrogates: State Senator O’Connell, Laura Capps, Congressional candidate Activity 4: Interviews with Los Angeles area television, radio and press Surrogates: Families Activity 5: Interviews with Fresno area television, radio and press Surrogates: Families Activity 6: Interviews with San Francisco area television, radio and press Surrogates: Families COLORADO: Activity: Roundtable at Mile High Medical Child Care Center Surrogates: Lt. Governor Gail Schoettler, Congressional Candidate Diana DeGette, Five families CONNECTICUT: Principal: Hillary Rodham Clinton Others: Congressman Gejdenson DELAWARE: Activity: Radio interviews with parents Surrogates: Wayne Cross, MBNA, Patricia Davis, Micro-biologist at VENCA Co, subsidiary of DUPONT FLORIDA: Activity 1: Press Conference at Wackenhutt Security Firm, West Palm Beach Surrogates: Governor Chiles, Bud Kneti, Wackenhutt company spokesman, Wackenhutt workers that have benefitted from FMLA Activity 2: Press Conference at Bayfront Medical Center, in St. Petersburg Surrogate: Bill Nelson, Insurance Commission, Bob Carter, Vice President of Bayfront Medical Center, Jeanne Malchon, State Senator Activity 3: Press Conference at Baptist Hospital, in Miami Surrogate: Elaine Gordon, State Rep. Elaine Bloom, State Rep. Larcenia Bullard, State Rep. Annie Bettancourt, State Rep. Laura Jean Edwards Activity 4: Press interviews in Tallahassee Surrogate: Lt. Governor Buddy MacKay, Connie Wells, Family Voices GEORGIA: Activity: Press conference at Ben and Jerry’s Scoop Shop, in Atlanta Surrogate: Vicki and George Yandel, FMLA advocates (Mr. Yandel was fired when he took time off to be with his daughter who was dying), Cheryl Sarvis, Principal of Jackson Elementary School, Darren McDaniel, owner of Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop, Representatives of BellSouth HAWAII: Activity 1: Democratic Unity Breakfast Surrogates: Rep. Neil Abercrombie, Rep. Patsy Mink IDAHO: Activity: Op-eds and letters to the editor. ILLINOIS: Activity 1: Op-ed, press conference, Champaign, IL Surrogates: Laurel Pressing, Jay Hoffman, Congressional candidate Activity 2: Op-ed, press conference in Rockford, IL Surrogates: Katherine Lee, Congressional candidate INDIANA: Activity 1: Press conference at Aging and In-home Services Center, in Fort Wayne Surrogates: State Representative Barbara Engell (former Republican, now Democrat), Diane Shappell, owner of the center, Center employees Activity 2: Workshop on father-friendly workplaces, in Indianapolis Surrogates: Governor Evan Bayh, sponsor of the event, will discuss FMLA IOWA: Activity: Roundtable discussion at AFSCME offices, in Iowa City Surrogates: Jay Ceyner, National Association of Social Workers KANSAS: Activity: Press conference on steps of Capitol, in Topeka, KS Surrogates: Joan Wagnon, former state legislator and family leave advocate, Representative, American Association of University Women, Prof. Forest Swall, Kansas University Sociologist, expert on family leave KENTUCKY: Activity: Press availability at Triangle Park, in Lexington Surrogate: Debi Hartnett, mother and FMLA beneficiary LOUISIANA: Activity: Roundtable discussion at Willis-Knighton Hospital, in Shreveport Principal: Vice President Gore MAINE: Activity: Press conference at East End Children’s Workshop, in Portland Surrogates: State Representative Libby Mitchell, Joe Brennan, Senatorial candidate, Marsha Lowery, single mother, Teacher, Connie Goldman MARYLAND: Activity 1: TV/Radio/Newspaper Push: Target Health Reporters Surrogates: Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Congressman Cummings, Parents and Pediatricians, HHS Secretary Shalala (Tentative) Activity 2: Tour at Kennedy Krieger Institute Surrogates: Pediatrician MASSACHUSETTS: Activity 1: Radio interviews in Boston and Worcester, MA Surrogates: Secretary Reich Activity 2: Ann Bookman, former Executive Director of National Commission on Family MICHIGAN: Activity: Press conference at COBO Center Surrogates: Rep. Bonior MINNESOTA: Activity: Press conference/rally on West Steps of State Capitol Surrogates: State Sen. Ellen Anderson, State Sen. Jane Ranum, State Sen. Carol Flynn, State Sen. Linda Berglin, State Rep. Karen Clark, Former State Sen. Donna Robertson - key to passing state FMLA in 87, Beth Lerow, mother refused leave MISSOURI: Activity 1: Press conference, in Kansas City Surrogates: Diane Cleaver, manager of a care facility and wife of Kansas City mayor Activity 2: Roundtable discussion at offices of business that supports FMLA, in St. Louis Surrogates: Joan Kelly Horn, former congresswoman that co-sponsored FMLA legislation, Vicki Gubany, R.N., recent beneficiary of the FMLA MONTANA: Activity: Roundtable discussion with families, in Missoula Surrogates: Missoula Mayor Mike Kadas, State Senator Vivian Brooke, State Senator Mark O'Keefe NEVADA: Activity 1: Roundtable discussion at Bob Baskin Park, in Las Vegas Surrogates: Cheryl Miller, Clark County Commissioner, Tony Wong, business owner, Tricia Smith, school teacher and FMLA beneficiary Activity 2: Radio interviews Surrogate: Senator Reid Activity 3: Op-ed Surrogate: Governor Miller NEW HAMPSHIRE: Activity: Press conference in lobby of Legislative Office Building, in Concord Surrogates: Dick Swett, former Congressman, current Senatorial candidate, Deborah "Arnie" Arnesen, Congressional candidate, Dr. Steve Gorin, New Hampshire Health Care Coalition NEW JERSEY: Principal: President Clinton Others: Congressman Torricelli, Senatorial candidate, David DelVecchio, Congressional candidate NEW MEXICO: Activity: Press conference, in Sante Fe Surrogate: Gloria Tristani, State Corporation Commissioner, Debbi Jaramillo, Mayor of Sante Fe NEW YORK: Activity: press round tables, radio shows Surrogates: Representative Velasquez, Representative Lowey, Nora Breddis (1st CD Candidate), Carolyn McCarthy (4th CD Candidate), Maria Echaveste (Tentative), Asking Dennis Rivera, 1199 health workers union, Asking Edwin Vargas, UNITE-needle workers union NORTH CAROLINA: Activity: Event at Hodgest Taylor Gallery, in Charlotte Surrogates: Al Russo, President Pro Tem City Council, State Rep. Ruth Easterling, Louise Randel, retired school teacher NORTH DAKOTA: Activity: Press conference at office Surrogates: Glenn Pomeroy, Insurance Commissioner, and family OHIO: Surrogates: Mary Boyle, County Commissioner, Marie Costas Weber, FMLA advocate OKLAHOMA: Activity: Press conference at Children’s Hospital, in Oklahoma City Surrogate: Tammy Price, FMLA beneficiary, Ms. Price's supervisor (Pioneer Telephone ), State Rep. Laura Boyd, Doctor from Children's Hospital OREGON: Activity 1: Radio call-ins Surrogate: Rep. Elizabeth Furse Activity 2: Op-ed Surrogate: Laurie Wimmer, former chair of Women’s Commission PENNSYLVANIA: Activity 1: Press conference and discussion, in Philadelphia Surrogates: State Senator Allison Schwartz, Postal workers, Businesses for Working Mom's award winner Activity 2: Press conference at Mellon Square, in Pittsburgh Surrogates: Sam Bellin, FMLA advocate and manager of a seniors center, Sarah Bellin, research scientist at University of Pittsburgh and FMLA advocate, Jim Carroll, an attorney that has handed FMLA cases, Lisa Georgetti, Children's Hospital RHODE ISLAND: Activity: Tour of neonatal ICU at Women’s and Infant Hospital Surrogates: Congressman, Senatorial candidate Jack Reed, Doctors, nurses, labor leaders and Citizen's Bank employees SOUTH DAKOTA: Activity 1: Press conference at family's home. Surrogates: Family that has benefitted from FMLA, Pro-FMLA business owners Activity 2: Radio interviews Surrogates: Dr. Jack Billion TENNESSEE: Activity 1: Visit to Johnson City Medical Center Children’s Hospital and roundtable discussion at Ronald McDonald House, in Johnson City Principal: Tipper Gore Activity 2: Roundtable discussion at private home, in Clarksville Principal: Tipper Gore Surrogates: Jeff and Tamara Kelly, hosts, Families that have benefited from FMLA TEXAS: Activity: Roundtable discussion at Zilker Park, in Austin Surrogates: Leslie Hernandez, National Association of Social Workers, Cathy Mellgren, Communications Workers of America, Dr. Cindy Mangie, a pediatrician, and her children UTAH: Activity: Roundtable discussion at local hospital Surrogates: State Sen. Millie Peterson VERMONT: Activity: Op-eds, letters to the Editor, radio interviews WASHINGTON: Activity: Open Letter from Senator Murray, Roundtable discussion at local hospital Surrogates: Gary Locke, Gubernatorial candidate, and families WISCONSIN: Activity: Press conference in Racine Surrogates: Lydia Spottswood, Congressional candidate, Ellen Bravo, 9 to 5 Group (pro-FMLA group), State Senator Kim Plache, State Representative Bob Turner WYOMING: Activity: Op-eds and letters to the Editor

Paid for by Clinton/Gore ’96 General Election Committee, Inc.