Some Republican Lawmakers Push For Subsidizing Child Care 

Some Republicans are pushing to use taxpayer money for child care subsidies, after deciding it’s a workforce issue that was brought to light throughout the pandemic. Some are making it part of their central messaging about policy agendas.  However with pandemic federal funding drying up, child care advocates claim the policies aren’t enough, and they want Congress to authorize spending in hopes the child care industry will be kept afloat. 

Republican Representative Emily O’Brien of North Dakota persuaded colleagues in 2022 to invest $66 million toward child care, after bringing her newborn children to State of the State addresses and other meetings shortly after the birth of each. Part of O’Brien’s argument was that the spending would help with the state’s workforce shortage by attracting new families to the state. She also argued that finding child care is an obstacle to some parents having the ability to work. 

Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parson put forth a proposal of nearly $130 million to aid low-income families in accessing care for their children, and to be able to offer tax credits for child care providers. The House passed the legislation on Thursday, sending it onto the Senate. Republican state Representative Brenda Shields sponsored the tax credit bill and says that accessibility to child care is vital for the growth of the state’s economy.