Democrats push for paid family leave ahead of critical votes

By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi surprised advocates, and even many of her Democratic colleagues, when she revived a long-sought paid family and medical leave plan and said it would be part of a massive social and environmental spending bill in the House. Ahead of eventual votes in the House and Senate, supporters are scrambling to try to keep it in the bill. And their effort is largely focused on one person — Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Manchin’s Democratic colleagues and advocacy groups who support paid leave have been lobbying the mercurial senator at home and in Washington.