Congress to consider paid sick leave

Legislation to be introduced in Congress would guarantee U.S. workers up to seven paid sick days a year, the bill's sponsors said. A similar plan was rejected by Congress while George W. Bush was president, but backed by President Barack Obama when he was a U.S. senator and presidential candidate, The New York Times reported Saturday. The legislation is to be introduced Monday by congressional Democrats who have the support of women's groups and labor unions. "There's something wrong when people have to choose between their jobs and taking care of themselves or their families when someone is sick," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who is introducing the measure with Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. Business groups and Republican leaders have vowed to block passage of the legislation, saying it would hurt small businesses, the Times reported.