Authors Maxine Eichner
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A THREAD: Groups claiming to be “pro-family” (but really supported by billionaires) are mobilizing against Biden’s proposal of $300 monthly checks to children under 6, and $250 checks to older children.#1
Their claim that these checks would do more harm than good for families is COMPLETELY WRONG. Real experts on family wellbeing patently disagree with them. (See this report, for example. https://t.co/olDXKL3ljq Disclosure: I was on this international panel.)#2
1 in 5 US children now lives in poverty, including almost 1 in 4 Black and Hispanic children. Nearly 1 in 6 children aren’t even getting enough to eat. Monthly checks would ensure a “floor” of income to these children.#3
But it’s more than poor families who need these checks: Almost 1/2 of US households in the United States lost employment income since March 2020, and disproportionately those with children. (No surprise, given widespread school and daycare closures require parents to be home.)#4
Even before COVID, 1/2 of US families had no savings to cover emergency expenses. Their loss of income this year means their spending on children will take a hit. But research shows that whether children get consistent resources critically affects their development.#5
Conservative policy-world beginning to mobilize against Biden's proposed expansion of child benefits@AngelaRachidi warns "extending cash benefits to nonworking parents through the tax code has no precedent in our nation," calls for cutting taxes insteadhttps://t.co/YCargBOEsj
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) January 28, 2021
Their claim that these checks would do more harm than good for families is COMPLETELY WRONG. Real experts on family wellbeing patently disagree with them. (See this report, for example. https://t.co/olDXKL3ljq Disclosure: I was on this international panel.)#2
1 in 5 US children now lives in poverty, including almost 1 in 4 Black and Hispanic children. Nearly 1 in 6 children aren’t even getting enough to eat. Monthly checks would ensure a “floor” of income to these children.#3
But it’s more than poor families who need these checks: Almost 1/2 of US households in the United States lost employment income since March 2020, and disproportionately those with children. (No surprise, given widespread school and daycare closures require parents to be home.)#4
Even before COVID, 1/2 of US families had no savings to cover emergency expenses. Their loss of income this year means their spending on children will take a hit. But research shows that whether children get consistent resources critically affects their development.#5