EDITORIAL KUEHL'S WORLD.

LEAVE it to state Sen. Sheila Kuehl to want to drive up the cost of doing business in California even as the economy struggles to climb out of recession.

The Santa Monica Democrat, who has long represented parts of the west San Fernando Valley, has authored legislation that if passed, would require state businesses to provide up to four months of paid leave whenever a new child is born, or should an employee's spouse, family member or domestic partner become ill.

The bill, which cleared the Senate on Monday, would cost state businesses and their employees, who would share the expense, millions of dollars. Some businesses might be able to afford it, and those that can probably already offer similar benefits to attract and retain employees.

But for millions more, it would be a serious burden that would almost surely cause layoffs and hiring freezes.

And it would make California, once again, an even less-attractive place to do business. This is what happens when feel-good politics trumps sound economics.

Kuehl's bill deserves a swift defeat in the Assembly, and Kuehl deserves a swift trip back to ECON 101.