Flexible leave gains support

Lawmakers near approval on bills benefiting workers

General Assembly

Carl Johnson, who submitted testimony to lawmakers, said he has not been able to find full-time work and relies on part-time jobs to support his family. But when he is out of work, the 22-year-old Baltimore native said, "this pushes my family further into poverty."

Opponents contend that the bill would stifle job creation and increase unemployment payouts by $8.7 million in the next fiscal year.

Restaurateurs, in particular, said the bill would harm their businesses because so many of their employees work part time. Jackie Greenbaum, who owns Jackie's Restaurant in Silver Spring, said in an e-mail to lawmakers that her business has been hurt by the looming recession and that the extension of unemployment benefits "would have a further damaging effect."

"Sometimes when times are bad in the economy, you have to pull back," said Sen. Allan H. Kittleman, a Republican who represents Howard and Carroll counties. "We just can't afford it."

The issue split the business community. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce supports the bill, noting that 9-to-5 jobs are no longer the standard.

"We recognize that part-time workers have a stronger presence today than in the past and eligibility for unemployment insurance should accurately reflect the overall work force," said Will Burns, a spokesman for the chamber.

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Sun reporters Timothy B. Wheeler and Gadi Dechter contributed to this article.