Trump wants us to have more kids — but it's more expensive than ever
There are few policies that attract bipartisan support, and the child tax credit is one of them.
Since the late 1990s, both Democratic and Republican administrations saw the measure as a way to support middle-income and lower-income families.
This year, the discussion is a little different.
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Along with a potential increase of the credit, the Trump administration is considering a one-time, $5,000 baby bonus and other incentives, according to The New York Times. A “National Medal of Motherhood” medal would honor those with six kids or more, and quotas for married couples or applicants with children for programs like the Fulbright fellowship are being considered, according to The Times report last month.
The issue of boosting fertility rates, rather than just supporting American families, has entered the chat.
“The fact that the [Trump] administration jumped straight to motherhood medals and not something like paid leave or child care solutions shows just how out of touch they are with what parents in America are experiencing right now,” said Julie Kashen, a director for women’s economic justice at The Century Foundation.
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After embarking on an ambitious tariff policy that faces economic headwinds, the Trump administration now will be tested on its commitment to American families. The administration will set the scope and size of the child tax credit, consider additional incentives and suggest how these are structured when it comes to defining the income of eligible families.
The administration will have to balance its embrace of pro-family values with widespread concerns about the economy and the growing deficit.
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