Following unsuccessful attempts to dialogue with Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart about the implications of a citywide mandatory paid sick leave ordinance, the Freedom Foundation has challenged Stuckart to publicly debate the merits of the policy.

At an April city council meeting, Councilmember Mike Fagan cited Freedom Foundation research about the ineffectiveness of past paid sick leave laws, prompting Stuckart to reply that he had “six pages of responses” to the Freedom Foundation paper that he would “save for the night we pass this policy.”  

The Freedom Foundation reached out to Stuckart’s office following the comments, noting that “the time for a discussion of the policy implications of such an ordinance is now, not after the outcome has been determined.”

No response was ever received.

Instead, the council has continued to move forward full speed towards adoption of an ordinance, with the officially sanctioned work group meeting for just six hours to discuss what the ordinance might look like.

“Council President Stuckart’s unwillingness to seriously consider alternative points of view and to engage in an open and honest discussion of the policy implications of sick leave regulations is disappointing,” said Freedom Foundation labor policy analyst Maxford Nelsen.  

“City leaders owe it to the residents of Spokane to seriously consider the ramifications of additional business regulations, rather than simply trying to score political points.”

On June 25, the Freedom Foundation sent a letter to Stuckart’s office proposing that Nelsen publicly debate Stuckart at a time and place of mutual agreement, but prior to adoption of any sick leave ordinance by the city council.

Stuckart has yet to respond to the Freedom Foundation’s letter.