Trump and Harris both support a bigger child tax credit. But which families should get it?
Never before in a presidential election cycle has there been so much discussion of the child tax credit — a tool many Democrats and Republicans have endorsed as a way to lift children and young families out of poverty
WASHINGTON (AP) — Never before in a presidential election cycle has there been so much discussion of the child tax credit — a tool many Democrats and Republicans have endorsed as a way to lift children and young families out of poverty.
Just three years ago, child poverty rates fell significantly when President Joe Biden's administration raised the child tax credit and made even the poorest families eligible. But the expansion only lasted a year. Congress declined to renew it.
There is hope for another increase in the tax credit, regardless of who wins Tuesday's presidential election, but tension remains over who should qualify.
Democrats seek a massive — and costly — expansion of the social safety net. Vice President Kamala Harris has pitched a major increase to the child tax credit as part of her presidential campaign. Rather than providing the benefit through a tax refund, she wants to send monthly payments to parents, even those who aren't working and pay no income tax. Republicans have expressed support for increasing the tax credit but also concern that for some parents, it could become an incentive not to work.
