Yet another Democratic policy conceived without any thought to negative economic impact or how increased costs would get passed on to the consumer. As Gabriel Malor says, here’s their entire thought process:

A week (and phased-in two week) paid vacation sounds like a nice thing. We should have that. The end.

And businesses are left juggling the costs, even without the fact that employees and employers should be able to negotiate their contracts freely.

Rep. Alan Grayson was standing in the middle of Disney World when it hit him: What Americans really need is a week of paid vacation.

So on Thursday, the Florida Democrat will introduce the Paid Vacation Act — legislation that would be the first to make paid vacation time a requirement under federal law.

The bill would require companies with more than 100 employees to offer a week of paid vacation for both full-time and part-time employees after they’ve put in a year on the job. Three years after the effective date of the law, those same companies would be required to provide two weeks of paid vacation, and companies with 50 or more employees would have to provide one week.

The idea: More vacation will stimulate the economy through fewer sick days, better productivity and happier employees.

First of all, any legislation conceived while standing next to the Winnie the Pooh ride at Disney World should be laughed out of the room from the get-go. Second, “happy employees” and “fewer sick days” aren’t the only impact on the economy. You also have companies now hiring fewer employees, higher costs for the employees currently on the payroll, and having to pass those higher costs onto the consumers. Having three fewer sick days and a happier work force doesn’t make up for two weeks of mandatory paid vacation for all employees on your roll.

What moron proposes such legislation in the middle of a recession, as companies are laying off employees and hoping not to go out of business themselves? What moron says, “You know what this situation really calls for? Two weeks of paid vacation!”? Apparently that moron is Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL).

Via HAH.