Letters to the editor | May 4, 2012
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Send to friend Help the children
Parents who work or go to school and receive child care subsidies are trying to make a better life for themselves and their children. Eliminating these subsidies threatens parents' livelihood and their children as well.
Right now, the legislature is cutting over $5 million in child care subsidies and millions in other children's funding that impact foster care and adoption, and child abuse and neglect.
This does not need to happen: the money is there, if the Senate passes the tax amnesty bill.
Right now, however, this bill is waiting for debate. Several senators are blocking the tax amnesty bill, thus preventing debate and passage. If the tax amnesty bill passed, much needed funding could be available for the critical programs that support child care, foster care and adoption, and address abuse and neglect in our state. Last year, there were over 6,000 children with substantiated cases of abuse or neglect. Last year, 48,061 children benefitted from child care assistance.
The state of Missouri does not have to abandon these children.
Contact your Senator and urge him or her to press for debate and passage of the tax amnesty bill now. Your action could make all the difference.
Pat Dougherty
Senior Director of Advocacy
Catholic Charities
Archdiocese of St. Louis
