Governor Hogan just vetoed paid sick days in Maryland. Unacceptable.

When Gov. Larry Hogan vetoed HB1, he sent the message that Marylanders don’t deserve time off work when they’re sick.

On May 25, Hogan vetoed HB1, the bill that got an unequivocal thumbs up from the Maryland legislature this past session and which would have ensured paid sick days for 750,000 working Marylanders. And in so doing, he conveyed that it’s okay for working adults to have to choose between staying home sick and missing out on much-needed income or risking losing their jobs because they’re too sick to work and going to work sick and possibly getting sicker and making others sick, too.

Unacceptable.

• This veto hurts Marylanders. People shouldn't risk their jobs when they get sick—as we all do.
• This veto hurts economic growth. Not only do workers benefit from paid sick days, but businesses benefit from increased productivity, and do not typically see an increase in costs. One recent study by the Center for Law and Social Policy makes that case here.
• This veto hurts families. Instead of caring for children and family members, working Marylanders will have to choose between work and taking their children to the doctor.  

In passing HB 1 this past legislative session, our state lawmakers sent a loud and clear message that tackling poverty and the deep and systemic inequities in our collective safety net is a priority for Maryland. Yet when Gov. Hogan vetoed the bill, he instead suggested that preserving Marylanders’ ability to work and those policies that protect against – and help Marylanders out of – poverty are less of a priority for his administration.

Paid sick leave is a priority for Health Care for the Homeless. And we will press forward in coming weeks and months to build on the advocacy of our community (incluiding with the Working Matters Coalition) and the leadership of HB 1’s sponsors (Del. Luke Clippinger, Del. Dereck Davis and Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton) that got this bill passed. We will work to make sure paid sick leave becomes a right and a reality for all Marylanders.

Join us and tell your legislator to override the Governor’s veto or spread the message below on social media.