Paid family and medical leave in play at Minnesota Capitol

@ap.news Democratic Minnesota state Sen. Alice Mann, of Edina, speaks at a rally in support of creating a paid family and medical leave system, in the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn. Mann is the lead author of the bill in the Senate. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Supporters of creating a paid family and medical leave system in Minnesota have rallied at the state Capitol to try to push the plan over the finish line.

Democratic Gov Tim Walz told a crowd in the packed rotunda on Tuesday that paid family and medical leave is the norm in other developed countries, and it’s now offered in 12 other states and the District of Columbia.

The legislation would set up a mandatory paid family and medical leave insurance program funded by a payroll tax that businesses could partly pass on to employees. Business groups oppose the new costs.