ABC and CBS Morning Shows Help Boost Obama’s ‘Paid Sick Leave’ Mandate

On Thursday, ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS This Morning eagerly promoted President Obama’s latest proposal that would require all private companies provide their employees with “at least seven days of paid sick leave.” NBC’s Today did not cover President Obama’s initiative on their Thursday morning broadcast.  

During the network coverage of Obama’s initiative, GMA co-host Robin Roberts cheered on the program and insisted that “studies have shown again and again and again that paid sick leave, not only benefits workers and their families but employers, as well, because productivity goes up.” 

On CBS This Morning, co-host Norah O’Donnell provided a 30-second news brief that sounded like an Obama administration press release with no mention of those who oppose a new federal mandate on private companies: 

Today, President Obama will call on Congress to guarantee paid sick leave for American workers. The Healthy Families Act would allow employees to earn up to seven paid days off for illness each year. The president wants Congress to spend $2.2 billion to help states develop paid leave programs. He will also take executive action signing a presidential memo to give at least six weeks of paid time off for federal workers with a new child. The White House says there are 43 million private sector workers that can't take a sick day without losing pay.

Over on ABC, Robin Roberts began the network’s coverage by hyping “a major new initiative for families from the White House this morning. President Obama proposing new legislation that would require companies to give workers paid sick leave.” 

The GMA co-anchor then turned to Jonathan Karl, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent, who, unlike CBS’s Norah O’Donnell, actually included Republican criticism of President Obama’s latest mandate:

This will be an uphill battle, to say the least. Republicans don't like the idea of imposing an expensive new regulation on companies, on employers. And Robin, Democrats have been trying to pass this bill since 2005. As you can imagine it won't be any easier now that Republicans are in control of both the House and Senate. 

Roberts concluded the segment by giving one final endorsement for Obama’s mandated “paid sick leave” proposal: 

And studies have shown again and again and again that paid sick leave, not only benefits workers and their families but employers, as well, because productivity goes up. And you heard Jon mention about 43 million Americans don't have paid sick leave. How many times does Dr. Besser say if you're sick, stay home? Well all these Americans are saying we can't stay home because we won't get paid. 

See relevant transcripts below. 

ABC’s Good Morning America

January 15, 2015

ROBIN ROBERTS: Now to a major new initiative for families from the White House this morning. President Obama proposing new legislation that would require companies to give workers paid sick leave. ABC's Jonathan Karl is at the White House this morning. Good morning, Jon. 

JONATHAN KARL: Good morning, Robin. The White House says some 43 million workers in the United States don't have any paid sick leave at all, so the president is calling on Congress to pass a law that would require companies to give at least seven days of paid sick leave to their employees. He's also asking for $2 billion to be given to the states and cities to help them pass or start their own programs with family and medical leave. And he's acting on his own making it easier for federal employees to get up to six weeks of maternity leave. The president is promising a big push on all of this beginning next week, Robin, with the State of the Union address. 

ROBERTS: The big question, how much of a chance does this have to pass, Jon? 

KARL: Well, this will be an uphill battle, to say the least. Republicans don't like the idea of imposing an expensive new regulation on companies, on employers. And Robin, Democrats have been trying to pass this bill since 2005. As you can imagine it won't be any easier now that Republicans are in control of both the House and Senate. 

ROBERTS: Alright Jon thank you very much. And studies have shown again and again and again that paid sick leave, not only benefits workers and their families but employers, as well, because productivity goes up. And you heard Jon mention about 43 million Americans don't have paid sick leave. How many times does Dr. Besser say if you're sick, stay home? Well all these Americans are saying we can't stay home because we won't get paid. 

STEPHANOPOULOS: We’ll lose our job. 

ROBERTS: Right, we’ll see.  

STEPHANOPOULOS: Important stuff. Okay Robin thanks. 

 

CBS This Morning 

January 15, 2015

NORAH O’DONNELL: Today, President Obama will call on Congress to guarantee paid sick leave for American workers. The Healthy Families Act would allow employees to earn up to seven paid days off for illness each year. The president wants Congress to spend $2.2 billion to help states develop paid leave programs. He will also take executive action signing a presidential memo to give at least six weeks of paid time off for federal workers with a new child. The White House says there are 43 million private sector workers that can't take a sick day without losing pay.