State senator says paid family and medical leave bill will drive businesses out of Minnesota

(Fargo, ND) -- Minnesota State Senator Mark Johnson is warning about what he calls the downside of the paid family and paid medical leave legislation just passed by the senate. 

"One of the arguments that I continue to hear from democrats is that this is going to draw in all sorts of employees to Minnesota but you hear businesses saying, well we are going to get driven out over to North Dakota, to Wisconsin, to South Dakota, whatever it might me. So we might get employees but our businesses are expanding in other places," said Johnson. 

The bill, now on the way to the governor's desk, was passed by a vote of 34 to 33, with Johnson crediting District 4's Rob Kupec with casting the deciding vote in favor of the legislation. 

Expected to become law, the bill would provide up to 12 weeks of paid family leave and up to 12 weeks of paid medical leave to employees. 

Johnson says the measure will lead to upwards of 480 new state employees and $3 billion in taxes over the program's first four years. 

The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce voiced strong opposition to the bill.  

WDAY Radio Now is reaching out to Senator Kupec for comment.