What Women Wish Gwen Ifill Could Have Asked

Ellen Bravo, former Director of 9to5 (National Association of Working Women) and Coordinator, Multi-State Working Families Consortium (a network of 11 state coalitions representing nearly a million members of a wide range of organizations), released the following statement [verbatim] about last night's vice presidential debate:

Gwen Ifill was hobbled by more than a broken ankle last night. The rules of the vice presidential debate prevented her from asking follow-up questions. I work with 11 statewide coalitions who are fighting for policies that value families at work. Here are some questions we wish Gwen Ifill had been allowed to ask:

For Governor Palin:

"You’ve said that one of your three priorities as vice president will be to work with families of children with special needs. Yet I received letters from many women in this situation who said what they need is paid sick days and affordable family leave. A representative of your campaign told the Families and Work Institute that the McCain-Palin ticket opposes these measures as 'mandates.' Please explain your opposition. If Congress passed such bills, would a President McCain veto them?"

For Senator Biden:

"You said that even though you're a man, you know what it's like to be a single parent. Your ticket has stated its support for policies such as paid sick days and expanding family leave. How much of a priority will you give these issues? Will you make it possible for members of your administration to go home at night to their families?"

For Governor Palin:

"You told the viewers that you're middle class just like them. Yet you were able to bring your infants to work, you have a husband who could afford to take time off without risking his paycheck or his job, and you have health insurance to pay for expensive therapies if you need them. Half the private sector workforce lacks even a single paid sick day or coverage under the Family and Medical Leave Act; only 8 percent have paid maternity leave. What would your administration do for families like these?"

"Women are going to decide this election," Bravo said. "Especially in these difficult economic times, we want an administration that won't put women in the dangerous position of having to give up their jobs in order to care for themselves or their families.

"That's why we want candidates at all levels to talk to us about these issues. Enough hype about family values -- we want to know how candidates at all levels will value families at work."

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