LANSING — State Reps. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township) introduced a package of bills this week to assist working families with the cost of childcare. House Bill 4193, introduced by Rep. Anthony would establish a tax credit for families based on gross annual income, providing the highest credit to families making less than $25,000 a year.
“The high cost of childcare makes it extremely difficult for many working parents to achieve their financial goals,” Rep. Anthony explained. “These costs and responsibilities place a particularly heavy burden on households in which women are the sole or primary breadwinners. In a business climate where women earn 78 cents on the dollar, and women of color earn even less, these same families often have fewer funds and resources to devote to necessities like childcare. This package will bring us one step closer to establishing financial equity in our state and will help working families stretch their paychecks further.”
House Bill 4182, introduced by Rep. Lasinski, would establish a tax incentive to employers that offer onsite childcare for employees. Employers would be eligible for up to a 50 percent tax credit of expenses related to offering the service such as staffing, supplies and construction of the facility.
“Childcare costs exclude too many hardworking parents from the job market. Forcing families to choose between taking care of their children or earning the extra income their family needs is not helping anyone move forward,” Rep. Lasinski said. “By working with employers to provide childcare, we ensure that no parent has to make that choice and we can expand on the state’s talent pool. This bill package provides more options for families and brings more people into the job market, which will, in turn, strengthen Michigan’s economy.”