San Francisco, CA, just became the only city in the U.S. to offer fully-paid maternity/paternity leave for birth or adoptive parents. While this comes as no surprise since California is "traditionally" a progressive state, the reality is that this new law shouldn't be a rare case. It should be a requirement for all states.

Families birthing or adopting children in the U.S. are assuming the care of future citizens and voters of the U.S. Bearing this in mind, shouldn't these parents be able to focus on proper and healthy bonding and upbringing of these future citizens/voters in their first few months of life? This rapidly paced period of physical, mental and emotional development for a child is vital---a fragile and formative phase with the potential to impact the entire complex of who they become as people. By not granting both (or either) parents "permission" to focus on raising their children at this time, we are essentially saying as a nation and state that parents should take the bare minimum of time off for this child---almost as if it is an illness for which "sick days" should suffice---after which, a person should be "better" and then return to work as usual. They should take their tiny, fragile infant to daycare and place them in the distracted, divided care of non-familial people, so they can return to work to earn money to pay these non-familial people to raise their children. It goes completely against human nature, and it makes child-rearing a sort of punishable offense in our country. It's as if we are saying, "You can have  a child, but you will have to take on the extra bills and expenses of this child without your paycheck, because a child isn't necessary." As if a child is a hobby for which vacation time should be used. 

There should not be merely TWO STATES out of 50, in this day in age, that offer paid maternity leave. We let same sex couples get married and get a tax break, we let foreign citizens cross our borders and gain citizenship and earn money here, which is all great. So, why can't we support current citizens who bring new citizens into the world? Why can't we support citizens who are promoting adoption, giving children who would otherwise be in foster care, or perhaps be aborted, a chance at life? Parents should be rewarded, not punished. 

I have one nine-month-old daughter, and I hesitate to have another child until I know I don't have to lose my ability to support another child by having them. As we look to move to Idaho, this is the one factor holding us back from making the move from California. Imagine if you were to be one of the first few states to change this policy---how many more people would want to move there. If nothing else, those living near the Idaho/WA border may just be tempted to make the move over the border. This would bring more citizens, more jobs, boost the housing market, and a host of other things. 

This needs to change now. Please make it happen.