AP: Kerry Would Increase Child Care Tax Credit

[flpoljunkie]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&u=/ap/kerry&printer=1

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry wants to give parents more money to help cover child care costs, to the tune of $20 billion over 10 years.

Kerry says he will, if elected, raise the child and dependent care tax credit to cover up to $5,000 in expenses, up from the current $3,000 maximum. And he would extend the benefit to some parents who currently are not eligible, including stay-at-home parents and some lower-income families who cannot get the nonrefundable credit because they do not owe any tax.

Kerry also said he would create a federal program that would pay to keep schools open until 6 p.m. to help working parents.

"All across this country there are families who would like to enroll their kids in after school and child care programs, but they can't because budgets are tight," Kerry said in a statement issued Wednesday.

more...

[Null Pointer]

1. Sounds great,

Who are these people who say Kerry has "no ideas" and "no message" If people just paid attention (which means they'd have to read mundane Tax articles on Yahoo News) Kerry'd win in a landslide.

I guess, for most people outside the DU, Jacko, Scott Peterson, and finding out if "The World According To Jim" will be back for a 3rd season next year is more important.

[NMDemDist2]

2. so if I don't breed I can't get a tax cut?

I have no problem helping out poor families, but I sure get tired of covering co-workers for "lil johnny's soccer game" or "lil lisa's dental appointment"

while I am self employed now, it sure was a drag when i ended up working harder for less money, while my co-workers had a built in excuse to take off early a few times a month.

I already support the schools thru my property taxes, and pay more than my share of medical insurance to cover all the braces and ear infections

don't get me wrong, but this "it's all about the children and the family" stuff gets me down sometimes. I chose not to have children but still seem to have to support kids that aren't my own

just a thought

[Commendatori]

3. I couldn't agree more, actually

I'm single without kids, I chose to be that way, and I wonder what people did before the income tax and deductions. Helping kids is great until people like I and AZDemDist6 are told through the tax code that while we put less strain on social services, our only responsibility is to cough up cash to fund our replacement generation.

Why not go the extra mile and make the fines for DUIs contingent on how many kids someone has?

[NMDemDist2]

4. wow, I thought I'd need my flame proof suit

thanks for the kind words

[incapsulated]

5. I subsidize a lot of things I don't have anything to do with...

Kids
Gas
Home ownership
$1000 Pentagon Ashtrays..

I can live with this, though. At least it's an investment in real people, especially if he includes those who where not previously eligible but probably need the help a lot more.

I would gladly pay more taxes if I knew it would actually improve the Educational system in this country, especially for the poor and working class, even though I don't have any kids. It's an investment in the future of America, which isn't looking too good right now.

[NMDemDist2]

7. i'm not complaining about the taxes so much

i just get a bit tired of the society being so "child centered"

i think i get more twisted about the parents expecting me to be agog and understanding about the kids game, teeth, whatever

i'm glad you love your children, but would you PLEASE go finish that report......

that's kinda where I was coming from

[dusty64]

8. I don't mind sharing a fair

amount of the burden either, but resent being expected to carry MORE. Many of the people getting these benefits are better off than myself and I (like most) am not doing as well as I used to. Not to mention the fact that a lot of the very people I am expected to subsidize are actively working to deny me and my partner (of 16 years) equality and campaigning to rewrite our Constitution to ensure us third class citizenship, our $$$ continues to be green enough to keep taking however. Put me also down as being completely sick and tired of being taken advantage of by both parties and totally ignored.

[Larkspur]

6. Whoopdee doo, Kerry!

Only 37% of people in this country have kids, only 22% are married with kids, so what about the rest of us taxpayers, Mr I-married-the-Ketchup-heir.

http://www.unmarriedamerica.org/main.htm