Congressional Democrats in both chambers are already working, before voting to approve Mr Biden’s temporary bailout, to permanently incorporate a large expansion of child benefit into tax legislation.
“We’re building the architecture for the future,” said Connecticut representative Rosa DeLauro, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, who on Monday, with representatives Suzan DelBene from Washington and Ritchie Torres from New York, introduced legislation that would permanently expand the tax credit for children and make it fully refundable. “That’s why we not only throw money into a situation, but also seek lasting, transformative change.”
Poverty reduction groups and a growing group in Congress have been pushing for years to send more federal aid to parents. However, they have long been concerned about “work incentives” that conservative groups have tabled against their proposals. These groups say that sending money that is not dependent on income outside the home would make it easier for low-income parents to quit their jobs and rely solely on government support.
“At the very least, politics should not incentivize work, have long-term economic consequences, or allow dependency on utility,” said Veronique de Rugy, an economist at the Libertarian Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Mr Romney’s plan, she said, “would do this by placing us in a world of pre-1996 welfare reform where benefit is available regardless of marital or employment status of parents.”
Mr Biden campaigned for an expansion of child benefit to combat poverty. He and his cabinet have made repeated calls on the plight of the children to emphasize the need for his economic aid package.
“We have 24 million adults and 12 million children who go hungry every day,” Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen told CNN on Sunday. “And we have to provide them with food. We have people who are suffering, especially low-wage workers and minorities, and through no fault of their own. We need to get them to the other side and make sure that doesn’t put a permanent strain on their lives. “
Democrats stand ready to maneuver Mr Biden’s bailout through a complex budget process to circumvent the need for Republican votes in the Senate. As a result, any provision that changes child benefit must adhere to a number of parliamentary parameters. It is unclear whether a permanent extension of the benefit would prevail under the strict rules and whether the total price of the package, which is set in a resolution that was passed in both chambers this month, will be adhered to.
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