It could be a long weekend at the State Capitol. With an adjournment deadline of 7 a.m. Tuesday, lawmakers are trying to reach agreement on key issues, including taxes, transportation, stadiums and human services.
One issue being closely watched by children's advocates is support for child care. Families with young kids have already paid a price to help balance the budget, and there are worries there'll be more to pay this year, said Zoe Nicholie, a spokeswoman for the organization "Ready for K."
"They received a big cut two years ago, of $86 million," she noted. "When that cut happened over 10,000 of our young children, whose parents are working, low-income families, lost access to childcare assistance. We don't know where those kids are being cared for now. Now, we're facing another $70 million cut."
Zoe notes Minnesota has the highest percentage of working parents in the country. And one reason couples need two incomes is the high cost of child care.
Affordable child care is essential for the economic survival of working families and the well-being of their kids, she added.
"The cost of child care is high." she said. "It can range anywhere from $5,000 to $13,000 a year for one child. And, we need to be able to support low-income families, so that they can have their children in safe, caring and good learning environments during the day that will help get those kids ready for school."
One option being considered by lawmakers as they try to bridge a $466 million budget deficit is continuing the child care reimbursement rate freeze. Nicholie says that has made care unaffordable for tens of thousands of families.
For more information
Visit the "Ready for K" website, www.ready4k.org
Share
It could be a long weekend at the State Capitol. With an adjournment deadline of 7 a.m. Tuesday, lawmakers are trying to reach agreement on key issues, including taxes, transportation, stadiums and human services.
One issue being closely watched by children’s advocates is support for child care. Families with young kids have already paid a price to help balance the budget, and there are worries there’ll be more to pay this year, said Zoe Nicholie, a spokeswoman for the organization “Ready for K.”
“They received a big cut two years ago, of $86 million,” she noted. “When that cut happened over 10,000 of our young children, whose parents are working, low-income families, lost access to childcare assistance. We don’t know where those kids are being cared for now. Now, we’re facing another $70 million cut.”
Zoe notes Minnesota has the highest percentage of working parents in the country. And one reason couples need two incomes is the high cost of child care.
Affordable child care is essential for the economic survival of working families and the well-being of their kids, she added.
“The cost of child care is high.” she said. “It can range anywhere from $5,000 to $13,000 a year for one child. And, we need to be able to support low-income families, so that they can have their children in safe, caring and good learning environments during the day that will help get those kids ready for school.”
One option being considered by lawmakers as they try to bridge a $466 million budget deficit is continuing the child care reimbursement rate freeze. Nicholie says that has made care unaffordable for tens of thousands of families.
For more information
Visit the “Ready for K” website, www.ready4k.org