Duckworth Can’t Take Maternity Leave?!

During a recent podcast, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) -- who recently announced that she’s pregnant with her second child and will become the first sitting Senator to give birth while in office -- said she cannot “technically take maternity leave.” Talking with Politico’s Women Rule podcast, Duckworth said that if she takes time off, she would not be allowed to sponsor bills or cast a vote during that period. She said she wants to work with Senate leadership to figure out how she can still vote during her planned 12 weeks of paid leave. "It's going to change some Senate rules," she said. She also questioned what she would do with her newborn in certain situations, given that children are not allowed on the floor of the Senate. "If I have to vote, and I'm breastfeeding my child, especially during my maternity leave period, what do I do? Leave her sitting outside?" she asked. Perhaps Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), who with Ivanka Trump has been making the rounds pushing for paid family leave and other similar reforms, can start here? More here.