Some states have moved ahead with plans of their own to boost child care subsidies after a national effort by Democrats in Washington stalled.
FILE - Children from a nearby daycare are escorted in Marcus Garvey Park in the Harlem neighborhood of New York Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007. . New York lawmakers passed a state budget in the spring that calls for it to spend $7 billion making child care more affordable over the next four years. Difficulties in finding affordable child care cost Enoshja Ruffin her job three years ago.
Democrats in Washington had big ambitions this year to boost child care subsidies nationally as part of a broad domestic spending bill. But with those plans stalled because of a lack of bipartisan support, some states moved ahead with plans of their own. New Mexico last spring raised income eligibility for subsidies to the highest level of any state. A family of four with an annual household income of up to $111,000 can now qualify for at least some government aid. Until June 2023, New Mexico will also waive child care copays, which saves families $400 to $900 per month, based on their income level.
Ronora James, a child care provider based in Rochester, New York, said she lost staff to fast-food restaurants that offer competitive wages. “I support steps to create more quality, accessible and reliable child care options, especially as costs continue to rise,” said New York’s GOP Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay in a statement. “However, as we’ve seen repeatedly in state programs, the level of spending and how funds are distributed must be closely monitored. Too often, state-run programs spiral out of control and fail to provide the intended services.
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