Two state Democratic lawmakers are reintroducing a child care tax credit geared toward middle-class families that they say could help bolster the economy.
People who pay for child care out of pocket would be eligible for a yearly credit of up to $6,000 under the plan. Rep. Melissa Sargent of Madison’s said low-income people who already get subsidies wouldn’t qualify.
“This bill is definitely geared toward middle-class America,” she said.
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A report from the nonprofit Child Care Aware listed Wisconsin as one of the most expensive states for full-time 4-year-old daycare.
Sargent said if working families could get a tax credit, most of them would spend the money.
“These families then are going to have that money to infuse back into the local economy,” she said. “They’re going to buy cars, they’re going to get their kids new shoes.”
Sargent and co-sponsor Rep. Eric Geinrich of Green Bay introduced the bill last year but it failed.
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