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John Kerry's Plan to Honor Work, Family; Plan to Offer $800

Daily newsbrief journal for July 2004, also see http://www.usdemocrats.com/brief for a global 100-page perpetual brief and follow twitter @usdemocrats


John Kerry's Plan to Honor Work, Family; Plan to Offer $800

Postby admin » Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:47 am

John Kerry's Plan to Honor Work, Family; Plan to Offer $800 in Additional Tax Cuts for Childcare, Quality Afterschool Program6/16/2004 10:18:00 AM To: National Desk, Politics Reporter Contact: Allison Dobson of John Kerry for President, 202-464-2800, Web: http://www.johnkerry.com COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following fact sheet on John Kerry's plan to ease strain on working families was released today by the Kerry campaign:With more parents working longer hours and fewer parents at home full-time than ever before, millions of families need high- quality child care and afterschool programs. But today, good child care costs more than a public university. Demand for afterschool far outstrips supply, and even when programs are available, they often close before the end of the workday or add complicated transportation requirements to already overstretched parents. As part of a week-long effort to address issues that are 'squeezing' middle class families, John Kerry is offering a new plan to make it easier for parents to balance work and family. John Kerry's plan would increase the childcare tax credit, make it partially refundable to help moderate-income families, and help stay-at-home moms with infants. Kerry's plan will also expand afterschool programs to serve 3.5 million children and to keep schools open until 6 pm each night, with good transportation options for hard-working families.THE STRAINS ON WORKING PARENTSFamilies Have Less Income. A two-parent family making $68,000 now spends three-quarters of their disposable income on health insurance, mortgage, cars, and taxes, up from about half their income three decades ago. (Warren & Tyagi, The Two-Income Trap, 2003)Families Have Less Time. Since 1977, the number of hours worked by couples has increased on average 12 hours a week. That is 12 hours per week less to spend with children. (New America Foundation, 2003)Child Care Costs Are Up By $2,000 - Twice the Rate of Inflation. In 2000, a family with two kids under age five in full-time daycare was spending $10,860 on childcare. By 2004, that figure increased to approximately $12,910. This increase is more than double the rate of inflation over this period. (Census Bureau, Consumer Price Index, Analysis by Amelia Warren Tyagi)Millions Need Afterschool Care. Today, about 1 in 3 middle school students care for themselves after school. Teen pregnancy, drug use, and alcohol use are more likely among kids without afterschool programs, and juvenile crime triples between the end of the school day and the end of the work day. George Bush proposed cutting afterschool programs by 40 percent, denying afterschool opportunities to more than 500,000 children. (Afterschool Alliance, 2004; Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 2003; Westat, 1995; The After-School Corporation, 1999; YMCA, 2001)JOHN KERRY'S PLAN TO HONOR WORK AND FAMILYJohn Kerry Offers a Two-Part Plan to Help Working Families.1. Increase the Childcare Tax Credit to Cover $5,000 of Expenses and Make It Available for Moderate-income Families and Stay-at-home Moms. The childcare tax credit has not kept up with the growing cost of childcare. John Kerry will raise the credit to cover the first $5,000 of expenses per child (currently the limit is $3,000). In addition, Kerry will ensure that the credit benefits moderate-income families by making it partially refundable. And Kerry will allow stay-at-home moms of infants receive support from the tax credit. -- A couple earning $60,000 with two children will get an additional $800 tax cut under this plan. A middle-class family with two children paying average childcare expenses would get a 20 percent tax credit on their $10,000 of childcare expenses. That is a $2,000 tax credit - or $800 more than they are getting right now. The credit is available for child care expenses for children up to age 13, as well as care for a dependent with disabilities.2. Create "School's Open 'Til 6" Afterschool for 3.5 Million Youths. At a time when parents are working longer hours than ever before, they need high-quality afterschool programs. Today, many parents don't have access to these programs, and the existing programs often don't stay open late enough or provide adequate transportation. John Kerry will increase federal support for afterschool from its present level of $1 billion to $2.5 billion in 2007, serving 3.5 million children each year, up by more than 2 million kids from today's level. At the same time, Kerry will improve the existing federal program to be more effective at engaging parents, fostering values, and reforming education. Kerry's initiative will be based on three principles: -- Parent-Friendly. Under Kerry's plan, afterschool programs will remain open until at least 6:00 in the evening, with school bus transportation coordinated so that students can get home safely.-- Values-Based. Kerry will support afterschool program models with proven records of success at helping children avoid drugs, crime, and trouble. One key element of such programs is mentoring by responsible adults who make a long-term commitment to children. A second key element is community service-students who take responsibility in their communities are more likely to take responsibility for themselves.-- Education Oriented. Afterschool programs help schools achieve their core mission of teaching our children. They provide extra one-on-one help for students in academics, as well as enrichment in areas like the arts. John Kerry's initiative will include proven forms of help with school and homework, linked to curriculum taught during the school day. Programs will involve college students participating in Kerry's Service for College initiative.Every Penny Paid For John Kerry's childcare tax credit will be fully paid for by his proposals to close corporate tax shelters. Specifically to pay for his child care tax credit, Kerry will codify the economic substance doctrine, which defines a tax shelter as any transaction that is conducted purely for tax reasons with no economic merit. In addition, Kerry will close Enron-related tax shelters. Congress' Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that these specific proposals will raise $20 billion over ten years (Joint Committee on Taxation, 3/3/04, JCX-15-04), the amount needed to pay for the child care credit. Under Kerry's proposal, raising the expense limit to $5,000 costs about $8 billion; the remaining funding will first ensure that the childcare credit is partially refundable, and then will in addition provide a tax credit for stay-at-home mothers of infants. Kerry's expansion in afterschool is financed through his Education Trust Fund, paid for by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for families making more than $200,000 per year. Specifically, Kerry's afterschool program offers full- funding for the afterschool authorization in No Child Left Behind.Examples of Successful Afterschool Programs-- Helping Working Parents:The After-School Corporation funds New York afterschool centers serving over 50,000 children between kindergarten and 12th grade. TASC combines academic and homework help with sports, arts, and community service. Parents said that TASC helped them balance work and family life, with three out of five saying that they missed less work and that it helped them keep their job. In addition, students' alcohol use and sexual activity declined, their math skills improvement, and their school attendance increased. (Policy Studies Associates, 2002)-- Keeping Kids Out of Trouble and Reducing Teen Pregnancy: The Beacons Initiative supports community centers in 80 schools throughout New York City. The centers create safe havens for children in neighborhoods struggling with drug abuse and other crime and also provide resources to families and senior citizens. They are open year-round and most are open until 10:00 in the evening. Large majorities of students (three-quarters or more) reported that the Beacon centers helped them avoid fighting and drug use. (Afterschool Alliance, 2003) Link to Post - Back to Top 64.180.161.172 botAdministratormember is offline Joined: Nov 2004Posts: 4,324Re: John Kerry's Plan to Honor Work, Family; Plan « Reply #1 on Jul 1, 2004, 10:30pm » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Local officials credit the Kuji Center in New Orleans with helping reduce the teen pregnancy rate in nearby public housing. The center requires parents to be active participants and offers students art activities, help with homework, and sex education. (Afterschool Alliance, 2004; Times-Picayune, 2001)-- Raising Students' Grades and Academic Achievement:LA's BEST serves more than 18,000 students in low-income or struggling elementary schools. A series of evaluations by UCLA concluded that students gained on math, reading, and language arts tests. Students without English proficiency were more likely to gain it than their peers at other schools. In addition, three- quarters of parents said they worried less about their children's safety. (Afterschool Alliance, 2003)State-by-State Breakdown of Children Served by Afterschool Programs Under Bush and Kerry Plans......Today....................Bush Plan:.......... Kerry Plan: ..........................Cut by $400 Million Fully Fund Afterschool ..............Served....Served.......Change.....Served...Change .......................................................(increase) Alabama.......20,019.....12,011.....- 8,008.....50,048....30,029 Alaska.........7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500Arizona.......23,024.....13,814.....- 9,210.....57,560....34,536Arkansas......12,553......7,532.....- 5,021.....31,383....18,830California...193,769....116,261....- 77,508....484,423...290,654Colorado......12,679......7,607.....- 5,072.....31,698....19,019Connecticut...14,019......8,411.....- 5,608.....35,048....21,029Delaware.......7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500DC.............7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500Florida.......64,449.....38,669....- 25,780....161,123....96,674Georgia.......42,313.....25,388....- 16,925....105,783....63,470Hawaii.........7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500Idaho..........7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Illinois......57,947.....34,768....- 23,179....144,868....86,921Indiana.......20,395.....12,237.....- 8,158.....50,988....30,593Iowa...........8,048......4,829.....- 3,219.....20,120....12,072 Kansas.........9,778......5,867.....- 3,911.....24,445....14,667Kentucky......20,030.....12,018.....- 8,012.....50,075....30,045 Louisiana.....26,089.....15,653....- 10,436.....65,223....39,134 Maine..........7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Maryland......20,821.....12,493.....- 8,328.....52,053....31,232 Massachusetts.29,123.....17,474....- 11,649.....72,808....43,685 Michigan......55,308.....33,185....- 22,123....138,270....82,962 Minnesota.....15,011......9,007.....- 6,004.....37,528....22,517 Mississippi...13,898......8,339.....- 5,559.....34,745....20,847 Missouri......21,198.....12,719.....- 8,479.....52,995....31,797 Montana........7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Nebraska.......7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Nevada.........7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 New Hampshire..7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 New Jersey....34,078.....20,447....- 13,631.....85,195....51,117 New Mexico....11,055......6,633.....- 4,422.....27,638....16,583 New York.....138,645.....83,187....- 55,458....346,613...207,968 N.C...........28,875.....17,325....- 11,550.....72,188....43,313 North Dakota...7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Ohio..........43,772.....26,263....- 17,509....109,430....65,658 Oklahoma......16,142......9,685.....- 6,457.....40,355....24,213 Oregon........12,509......7,505.....- 5,004.....31,273....18,764 Pennsylvania..51,865.....31,119....- 20,746....129,663....77,798 Rhode Island...7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 S.C...........19,106.....11,464.....- 7,642.....47,765....28,659 South Dakota...7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Tennessee.....18,862.....11,317.....- 7,545.....47,155....28,293 Texas........115,459.....69,275....- 46,184....288,648...173,189 Utah...........7,000......4,200.... - 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Vermont........7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Virginia......23,593.....14,156.....- 9,437.....58,983....35,390 Washington....18,817.....11,290.....- 7,527.....47,043....28,226 West Virginia.10,257......6,154.....- 4,103.....25,643....15,386 Wisconsin.....19,346.....11,608.....- 7,738.....48,365....29,019 Wyoming........7,000......4,200.....- 2,800.....17,500....10,500 Puerto Rico...42,840.....25,704....- 17,136....107,100....64,260 Tribes & Territories...14,286......8,572.....- 5,714.....35,715....21,429 Total......1,414,286....848,572...- 565,714..3,535,715..2,121,429Estimates based on the U.S. Department of Education's estimated cost of $700 per student and the current distribution of funding across states. Bush column based on FY 2004 proposal to cut funding from $1 billion to $600 million. Kerry column based on proposal to increase funding to $2.5 billion by 2007.
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