Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential the state Assembly Tue., Feb. 2, talked paid leave again, debating for the fifth time legislation that would extend 12 weeks of paid time off to employees who cannot work because they are caring for a sick relative or newborn child, or dealing with issues that arise from a family member's military service. The debate comes as Governor Andrew Cuomo is pushing his own family leave proposal. As for why the Assembly would take the legislation up now rather than wait for the budget deal, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie expressed some concerns about Cuomo’s proposal as it stands. Heastie said it is sometimes good to have multiple options for legislation available to the public at the same time. “If we just waited and waited and waited, we could end up getting a version of the bill that may sound good on the surface but not really do what the families of this state need,” he said. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.