With time running out in the Washington State legislative session, a cut in child care subsidies for poor families remains a $30-million part of a House plan to balance the budget, though the Senate appears to support more funding.
The House budget plan now has a smaller version of Gov. Christine Gregoire’s proposed cut to the Working Connections Child Care program – a move that would force thousands of poor families from the program that provides child care subsidies and support, according to interest groups.
But, over in the Senate, the budget blueprint would preserve funding for the program.
Supporters argue that working but still poor parents would have a far harder time pulling their families out of poverty without this help with often hefty child care bills.
Without work supports such as WCCC, maintaining employment can be difficult if not impossible. According to the state Department of Early Learning, the average cost of a child care center for two children is about $1,177 per month. (Assuming one toddler and one school-age child.) As shown in the graph below, that is over half of the total monthly income for a family earning $24,000 per year. – “Important Work Support in Jeopardy,” Washington State Budget and Policy Center.
While it isn’t clear what will happen to the program, something should happen soon. The regular legislative session is slated to end March 11. With a long and slow economic recovery now likely, the question is: Will legislators make the connections between working, the need for affordable child care and a stronger economy?
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