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Paid sick leave legislation in Allegheny County vetoed over incorrect passage process

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Legislation requiring Allegheny County businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees has been vetoed by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

The Paid Sick Days Act, which was passed by the Allegheny County Council on March 9, would have applied to businesses with more than 25 employees.

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“We want to do it. We want to do it right,” said Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald tells Channel 11 he supports paid sick leave, but the courts have ruled the type of legislation passed by the county council needs to originate from the health department.

“For us to take it up at the county level, and to have a law that will withstand the scrutiny, and the legal challenges, otherwise you know this is a house of cards that’s going to just get knocked down very quickly,” said Fitzgerald.

County Councilmember Bethany Hallam tells Channel 11 she is concerned with Fitzgerald’s actions.

“If he supports paid sick leave, he sure has a funny way of showing it,” said Hallam.

Hallam is questioning why the county executive has not implemented this rule before, and claims Fitzgerald only spoke about potential problems with the bill recently, even though the legislation has been debated on for more than one year.

“The whole thing is a smoke screen. The whole thing is truly disgusting to me that you would use your veto power in such a way that harms so many people that you were elected to represent. It’s just a sham and a disappointment,” said Hallam.

The Allegheny County Council may override Fitzgerald’s veto if ten members vote in-favor of the motion.

“If anyone changes their votes, we will know that is the sole discretion of the county executive. We will know that they are doing what they are told as opposed to legislating for their constituents, and that won’t be tolerated. And, we will run folks against any council member who does that,” said Hallam.

The county council will likely vote on the measure next Tuesday. If it passes, the legislation will become law.