Dems offer alternative to Trump administration’s child care proposal

Democrats are offering an alternative to the child care plan being pushed by the Trump administration. 

On Thursday, Democrats rolled out the “Child Care for Working Families Act,” which would focus on reducing child care costs for low- and moderate-income families while boosting pay for child care providers. 

The bill will become part of the Democrats’ “Better Deal” agenda, an economic messaging campaign designed to make inroads with working-class voters in 2018. 

{mosads}Specifically, the bill would ensure that families earning less than 150 percent of their state’s median income would pay no more than 7 percent of their income on child care; support universal access to preschool programs for all 3- and 4-year-olds; and improve compensation and training for the child care workforce.

The proposal was introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Health Committee, Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), along with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

A proposal spearheaded by President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, takes a different approach by allowing parents to deduct some of the cost of child care from their income taxes. 

The deduction would be capped at the “average cost of care” in the state of residence, and it wouldn’t be available to an individual earning more than $250,000. 

Ivanka Trump and the administration have pushed for the proposal to be included in the GOP’s tax overhaul. 

But Democrats have said the proposal would most likely benefit wealthier people. 

“Instead of helping the 1 percent in this country with a new child care tax cut as some in the administration are pushing, Democrats are offering a better deal on the high cost of child care for working families,” Schumer said at a news conference.