Posted on 04/22/2020 9:09:16 AM PDT by Kaslin
As Congress mulls a fourth phase of coronavirus stimulus, it is time for them to include relief aimed at safeguarding the family — both through the duration of this crisis and into the future. Specifically, Congress should pass the bipartisan paid family leave bill introduced late last year by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) that would allow every family the ability to receive a $5,000 “baby bonus” advance on their Child Tax Credit upon the birth or adoption of a child.
This pandemic has imposed serious financial obstacles on millions of families across the country. Many are finding themselves unemployed or furloughed in the wake of the mass closure of businesses and the issuance of stay-at-home orders. The economic stress will be compounded for new parents, who will spend most of this year and next recovering financially not only from the money lost during the crisis but also the significant cost of bringing a new baby into the world, which on average costs nearly $11,000 — and that’s assuming there are no health complications.
The bipartisan proposal from Cassidy and Sinema would alleviate much of this financial pressure on new parents. It is absolutely brilliant in its concept: instead of imposing new taxes or creating another government entitlement program, Cassidy-Sinema uses the existing Child Tax Credit system to allow people to draw from money already entitled to them. New parents are going to enjoy an extra $2,000 per year anyway — why not let them front load some of that money when they need it the most? Especially if it allows them to take time off and spend those precious first few weeks at home with their new child?
For the vast majority of taxpayers, the bill would provide an immediate $5,000 check upon the birth or adoption of a child, and in return the taxpayer would “pay back” the $5,000 via a reduced Child Tax Credit for 10 years — instead of receiving $2,000 a year, these taxpayers would receive $1,500. Even those working part-time who do not earn enough to be eligible for the full child tax credit would be able to participate in Cassidy-Sinema. They could claim a smaller income-based benefit equal to 100 percent wage replacement for 12 weeks of work — and instead of a 10 year repayment plan, these families would be allowed to pay back in the form of reduced Child Tax Credits over 15 years. All of this would be strictly optional. If a family wanted to maintain their existing Child Tax Credit setup without the advance, they would still have that option.
The benefit of allowing parents to choose when and how they use their Child Tax Credit without unnecessary bureaucratic strings attached has only been magnified by the coronavirus pandemic. Now more than ever, we must ensure that families have the opportunity and necessary resources to care for their new child. Families are the foundation on which this nation and its economy thrives. And with our nation’s birth rates already dwindling, we should be doing everything we can to encourage the growth of families and ensure their financial prosperity. Thus, as Congress works to ensure the viability of America’s small businesses and workers, and even considers a large overhaul of our nation’s infrastructure, it should not overlook the American family — especially when it would cost the federal government next to nothing to do so.
Alone, the Cassidy-Sinema “baby bonus” will not save the American family. But it is an important first step toward addressing some of the real economic struggles the family is facing — especially during this current crisis. Now is the time for Congress to act and include new families in their fourth phase of stimulus spending.
Oh, it’ll contain “bonuses” alright. Nanzi and her pals in CONgress(both sides of the aisle) are gonna “bone-us” bigly.
No more damn bonuses. Partly this is sour grapes. I met the income requirement for the recent payment, but am declared ineligible because I filed a joint tax return and my spouse is a foreign National with an individual tax number rather than an SS number. Because of this *I* apparently don’t even get the $1200 payment.
No more anything. Congress ain’t doing their job. I don’t want to see another bill of crap
Illegals and poor be poppin babies out in a hurry just at the possible sound of the taxpayers wallet being ripped open!!
As a society we should always always always value life ! and encourage the birth of babies
There will be forever more an endless stream of stable and loving couples who want these babies!
It’s funny my wife thinks of her self as a liberal , but I told her that she’s pro life and she admits that she is
she kind of squirms and says “
well I think that a woman should be in control of her body “
but she knows that I’m right
In the end the life issue is the crux of politics!
Does this mean that I believe every baby in those communities is conceived for those reasons? No. But I do believe if this ridiculous idea of baby bonuses is pushed it should follow more of a Hungarian path and be limited to citizens not invaders.
There will be forever more an endless stream of stable and loving couples who want these babies!
If you are talking about adoption there, wake up and smell the reality.
So that’s why I was ineligible as well. Foreign wife of 10 years in the Philippines. Was set to get the kids Birth Abroad papers in March. With her following sometimes this year. (Foreign income doesn’t count for the USCIS so I took a final chance to return to the US after 20 years of working abroad.)
Couldn’t find a decent job every time I kept returning to the US, due to Indian H1B trash for the past 20 years.
Last time I was here in 2008, got fired as an HP service technician because an Indian customer didn’t want an American touching or repairing his laptop
when I was in Chicago. Said we were unqualified and demanded an Indian service technician come out. He filed a complaint and I was canned.
Missed out of $3400.
Went from $130k a year and making retirement savings and making real estate investments to 0k and homelessness in a month all due to the Wuhanic Plague.
All the while, Trump is continuing to import 85000 foreign Indian trash H1Bs per year.
And no I won’t divorce my wife and abandon my kids like some heartless racist asshat told another FReeper to do in another thread.
Can’t imagine why foreign spouse couples don’t qualify when foreign workers do. Good luck to you.
Guess ITINs don’t count.
Some states are opening up Unemployment to H1Bs. More of our tax money to be remitted to India and Communist China. And makes them eligible for the $600 per week US added unemployment stimulus as well.
Got a call from an Indian recruiter. The State of Colorado was looking for someone with my skill set. Now, I don’t list my first name on my online job boards profile. And my last name is close to a Pakistani or Indian name when pronounced phonetically (surprised at how many Hispanic-sounding last names are Indian). As soon as the recruiter realized/ found I’m not Indian, the phone screen was over.
Now would my own state government be looking for H1Bs?
I hope they leave a little for phase 20.
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