Left Out of Manchin Deal, Paid Leave Backers Look to Future

Senate Democrats’ latest tax and climate reconciliation deal excludes a paid family and medical leave program, likely pushing any chance of enacting nationwide paid leave to a future Congress where it could require a bipartisan compromise.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) unveiled a deal July 27 that features a 15% corporate minimum tax, flexibility to negotiate drug prices, and a push to increase tax enforcement, as well as funding for energy and climate change proposals.

This measure is far less extensive than last year’s proposed $3.5 trillion spending package, which initially called for as ...