Where Both Presidential Campaigns Align - Supporting Working Families
With a handshake, fist bump and several man-hugs, the Vice Presidential debate between Senator Vance and Governor Walz showed America a bipartisan path forward on how to help working families. They both outlined ways to ease financial burdens faced by parents and increase access to childcare and paid leave. In fact, it almost appeared they were attempting to “out-do” one another on these issues and found themselves agreeing often to their opponents’ proposals.
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In the divisive political campaign season we are in, it was a breath of fresh air to see some agreement on ways to help American families. Senator Vance voiced support for finding alternatives for traditional childcare including more faith-based options and home-based care. Governor Walz highlighted the need for paid family leave for more low-income workers that don’t have access to corporate policies. But perhaps the most common ground was found on increasing the child tax credit. Senator Vance supports raising it from the current $2,000 per child limit to $5,000. While the Harris-Walz campaign would make permanent the $3,600 per child amount from the American Rescue Plan and create a new $6,000 tax credit for newborns.
Historically these issues have their roots in bipartisanship. It was President Trump who increased the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Cut. During the Covid pandemic, the Biden Administration expanded it to $3,600 as part of the American Rescue Plan which has since ended. Both parties have increased spending on childcare over the past decade by billions and will likely continue to do so in future appropriations. And currently in Congress there are bipartisan coalitions on paid family leave in both the Senate and the House.
Polling data over the last several years concurs on the bipartisan nature of these issues. Childcare, paid leave and the child tax credit have all traditionally had very strong support from both registered Republicans and Democrats. A poll conducted in August by KAConsulting LLC, commissioned in part by our firm The Clapham Group, found a national paid family and medical leave program was supported by 85% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans. Similarly, support for an increased child tax credit showed 75% for Democrats and 85% for Republicans.
Polling data provided by KAConsultingLLC and The Clapham Group
Once the election is over, the new Administration and Congress will have to work together to finish the appropriations process and consider the extension (or expiration) of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act set to expire in 2026. Undoubtedly, both chambers will be run by very narrow majorities with a need to attract support from opposing parties. Currently both parties are planning now with relevant chairmen and ranking members for what will be included in their respective reconciliation packages. But inevitably BOTH will include increases for the child tax credit, childcare funding and possibly a paid family leave plan.
Whatever the make-up of Congress and the new Administration, they should keep in mind the common ground they have on these items. If they are sincere in their desire to help working families, like the two of us, they can and will reach an agreement that encompasses all three and would provide much needed support in these difficult financial times.
Kiki Bradley, who worked at The Heritage Foundation and Juliet Vedral, who worked at Sojourners, may come from very different backgrounds and perspectives, but both agree that working families' role in raising children is irreplaceable, and public policy needs to support them.