Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says she's working to help families pay for child care.
Gillibrand says the cost of childcare in Rochester is up to $10,000 a year, while the average income is $30,000. The senator says this forces families to make choices between child care and professional development.
"For thousands of moms and dads with young kids across the region, it's always the same choice: do I keep my job so I can continue to afford child care? Or do I quit my job, lose my income, lose my place in my company and in my career track so I can stay at home and take care of my child because the cost is too expensive?"
She says giving parents sufficient resources to be able to keep working doesn't just help the family, it helps the economy. Not only does it keep parents in the workforce, she also says that quality childhood care yields more educated kids, who become more productive members of society.
To help offset costs, Gillibrand has proposed three bills. One of the bills allows families to write childcare off as a business expense, making it tax deductible.
"For most families, $10,000 is a lot of money, and it should be a business deduction because you're working hard, you need to be in the workplace."
Other bills would include tax credits for lower income families and an increased cap for childcare flex spending accounts.
Gillibrand introduced this legislation before, but it was unable to garner enough support to pass. The senator says she is more confident this time around in the bills being accepted by both parties.
