Republicans Attack Health Care and Sick Leave: A Growing Trend
The article highlights the precarious health of Americans, who face shorter lifespans and higher chronic disease rates compared to their economic peers, exacerbated by the lack of paid sick leave. Despite widespread public support for paid leave, approximately 26.5 million private sector, state, and local government employees lack access to it, particularly in low-income and service industries. While some states have passed legislation guaranteeing paid sick leave, Republicans have since worked to repeal or weaken these policies, often due to pressure from business interests. The absence of paid leave, coupled with a broken healthcare system, contributes to worse health outcomes and higher care costs in the United States.