Throughout the saga of the expanded child tax credit, which was introduced at the federal level as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act, one thing was clear: Democrats in Congress supported it, unlike to Republicans.
When the American Rescue Plan Act passed in 2021, it passed through the Senate entirely along party lines and passed the House with all but one Democrat voting yes and all Republicans voting no.
When the Build Back Better framework, which would have extended the credit for a year, passed the House last November, all but one Democrat voted in favor, while all Republicans voted against. And though that executive died in the Senate before a vote could take place, most Democrats (with the crucial exception of Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia) backed the bill, while Republicans vetoed. are unanimously opposed.
While the expanded child tax credit now languishes, the somewhat counterintuitive argument has been made that Republicans should take up the mantle of the child tax credit.
In an op-ed this week, Mike Shields of News Talk Florida, a former Republican National Committee chief of staff, argued that Republicans had an opportunity to “win over suburban mothers” in the midterm elections of this year by kissing the child. tax credit. They can simultaneously promise to pass expanded credit while blaming Democrats for not keeping it in place.
“With inflation reaching 40-year highs thanks to their economic mismanagement, the Democrats have once again tried to win over parents with ‘one-size-fits-all’ proposals that supposedly mitigate the rising cost of living,” writes Shields. “But in chasing endless bureaucracy, they abandoned a program that was working — the Monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC). The Republicans have an opening here.
This would allow the GOP, he says, to reclaim the mantle of “family values,” while also appealing to crucial demographics. He notes that a child tax credit was part of the deal with America, the program Republicans ran on in the 1994 midterm elections when they captured both houses of Congress, and part of this program that has become law. They could do the same this year, while claiming that they are helping to fight inflation.
“Supporting each family with CTC can feel completely different. For example, the money can pay for car repairs that allow a parent to get to work,” Shields writes. “It can cover specialized care for a disabled child. If a large family has other child care options, such as having an older sister take care of the children, the CTC allows that family to keep more of their money for other needs.
Stephen Silver, technology editor for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who also contributes to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and connect today. Co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.
Image: Reuters
