ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Marylanders are sending a loud message to Governor Wes Moore: don’t hit the brakes on paid family leave. A fresh poll from Maryland Rise, dropped this week, shows 82% of residents back the state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program—offering up to 12 weeks of partial pay for births, illnesses, or caregiving—even with a $3-to-$6 weekly worker contribution. Conducted March 11-13 by Annapolis-based OpinionWorks, the survey of 869 voters reveals a 55% majority itching to launch it now, not in 2028 as Moore’s team suggests.
The findings land as economic jitters ripple from D.C., where federal cuts threaten Maryland’s 144,000 federal workers—10% of the state’s workforce, per the Partnership for Public Service. “Marylanders know how important it is to be able to take time off to deal with health or family issues without sacrificing their paycheck,” said Lisa Klingenmaier, head of the Time to Care coalition that fought for FAMLI’s 2022 passage. “The polling confirms that our residents strongly support the state’s paid leave program, and that Marylanders want it to start now.” She’s pressing Moore to ditch the 18-month delay, arguing families can’t wait amid rising uncertainty.
Support holds firm at 69-21% when costs are spelled out, and 78% say helping workers trumps delay, even in shaky times. The program’s roots run deep—passed in 2022, it’s been battered by budget woes, with payroll deductions now set for July 2025 and benefits for July 2026. Moore’s latest push to January 2028, citing a $3 billion shortfall and Trump-era federal chaos, has 55% of voters pushing back. Klingenmaier’s plea echoes a state where 45% know someone hit by federal cuts, per the poll.
Child care’s another hot button. With 55% favoring expanded scholarships—30% want status quo, 8% cuts—the poll flags tension with budget proposals capping enrollment and trimming aid. Families juggling rising costs see it as a lifeline; last year, over 26,000 kids got help, per Maryland Family Network data. The General Assembly’s now wrestling with these numbers, balancing Moore’s fiscal caution against voter fervor.
OpinionWorks’ track record—tight ±3.3% error margin—lends weight to this snapshot of a state at a crossroads. Marylanders aren’t just crunching numbers; they’re picturing a new mom bonding, a son bedside with a sick parent, all without losing the rent. Moore’s got a fight on his hands—delay FAMLI, and he’s swimming against a tide of 82% support.
