Charlotte Randolph, owner of a child care center in Milwaukee, emphasized the importance of child care in the upcoming presidential election by organizing an event that included pizza and snacks for local families. She advocated for voters to prioritize child care issues when they head to the polls.
Randolph stated, “They need quality child care and they need affordable child care,” highlighting that this issue should be at the forefront of voters' minds.
Child care has typically been a sidelined topic in presidential politics, overshadowed by discussions on inflation, immigration, and foreign policy. However, in battleground states like Wisconsin, there is a growing recognition of the significance of child care, particularly among women voters.
In her final campaign speech, Vice President Kamala Harris pledged to make child-rearing more affordable, proposing a child tax credit and measures to lower child care costs for working families.
As child care expenses continue to rise, parents are increasingly seeking affordable solutions. Former President Donald Trump expressed support for legislation aimed at reducing child care costs, though his explanations have raised questions about implementation.
Senator JD Vance, Trump's running mate, suggested leveraging family support and federal subsidies for informal care as potential solutions to affordability issues.
President Biden has attempted to establish a national affordable child care system, but his efforts have faced opposition from congressional Republicans.
Many parents, such as Ashley Becker from Grafton, Wisconsin, express frustration over the lack of viable solutions from candidates regarding child care costs, which have forced families to allocate larger portions of their income to this necessity.
In Wisconsin, a recent survey indicated that only half of the child care spots in the state were affordable by the end of 2023, a significant drop from the previous year due to the cessation of federal pandemic funding.
Child care providers are also struggling financially, facing increased operational costs while trying to offer competitive wages to their employees. Sparkle Negron, a Milwaukee day care owner, noted the difficulties in running her center amid rising expenses.
Despite the challenges, Negron expressed optimism about the current presidential election, particularly after hearing candidates address child care concerns.
Melissa Welsh from Kenosha highlighted the financial strain of child care on her household income, stating that the costs consume about 20 percent of their finances. She compared U.S. support for families unfavorably with that of other countries.
Some parents have turned to family members for assistance, as encouraged by Vance. Brittany Sabin, a nurse practitioner, relies on her mother to help care for her children and expressed the need for improved child care support.
Despite a household income of approximately $200,000, Sabin finds it challenging to consider expanding her family due to financial constraints.
“Something needs to be done,” she remarked, reflecting the stress many families face regarding child care affordability.