Leaders In Action

Using Values, Washington Senator Passes Model Family Care Bill

Workers throughout the state of Washington will now have the right to use sick leave, vacation, or personal leave to care for their seriously ill children, spouses, parents, parents-in-law or grandparents, thanks to the work of Sen. Karen Keiser (Flemming Fellow-2002) and a strong coalition.

"At the heart of this legislation is the recognition that people need to be there for their loved ones when they are ill," said Keiser, who sponsored the bill. "The Family Care Act makes this possible for hundreds of thousands of workers and their families in Washington."

Improving family leave policies has been a longtime goal for Keiser, herself a member of the sandwich generation. She first began working on the issue in 1988 as part of the King County Labor Council, helping enact the state’s model law allowing leave to care for sick children.

Keiser and the measure’s House sponsor, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (Flemming Fellow-1997), worked with the Family Leave Network, a coalition of women’s groups, senior citizens, churches, medical groups, labor and small businesses. Meeting over the course of a year, the coalition explored a range of family leave policy improvements. The group postponed rolling out a larger initiative because of September 11. Instead, the coalition decided to promote a policy that would make an impact, yet had a chance of passing within a packed 60-day session.

The Seattle-based Economic Opportunity Institute took the lead in coordinating the coalition, conducting research and policy analysis, providing media support, and coordinating testimony.

While this proposal was not immediately well received, Keiser, Dickerson, and the coalition were persistent in their efforts. Keiser won over many colleagues by connecting with them on a personal level, including successfully reaching out to one staunch opponent who has 14 grandchildren. Working across the aisle and employing values in attempting policy change were lessons learned from Keiser’s training in CPA’s Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute. The bill ended up passing the House unanimously and the Senate with only four opposing votes.

Keiser, the Communications Director of the Washington State Labor Council, served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1997-2001. Born and raised in Iowa, Keiser received her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of California at Berkeley.