A Tale of Two Policies

Currently, 43 million American workers -- nearly four in 10 -- have no paid sick days. You can guess who: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 84 percent of private-sector employees with pay in the top quarter are entitled to paid sick leave, compared with 30 percent of those with pay in the bottom quarter. In other words, those who can least afford taking time off for illness are least entitled to it.

The situation is similar in terms of paid leave to care for a new child or sick family member. The United States is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee maternity leave. According to a report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, "college-educated workers are twice as likely to have access to paid leave as workers without a high school degree (72 percent versus 35 percent)."

This situation is not just unfair -- it's counterproductive. Workers with access to paid leave are healthier and more productive. Mothers with paid maternity leave are more likely to return to the workforce.

Obama urged Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act, which would guarantee seven days of sick leave annually; he proposed $2 billion to encourage states to develop paid family and medical leave programs.

Businesses argue that paid leave would force them to cut jobs or reduce wages. Yet evidence from states and cities that have adopted paid sick leave and family leave policies does not support such claims.

Government's job isn't to distribute ever-increasing benefits to all. Rather, it's to ensure that the distribution of benefits and opportunities -- whether a college education or time off to care for a sick parent -- is as equal as reasonably possible.

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Great news: Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has granted a conditional pardon to Reginald "Neli" Latson, a 23-year-old man with autism and an IQ of 69.Â McAuliffe's action will allow Latson to get the treatment he needs at a facility in Florida.

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Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.