Child‑Care Costs Drive Election Battles and Tax Proposals in Pennsylvania and Washington
Updated (3 articles)
National price surge fuels political urgency Child‑care prices jumped 29% between 2020‑2024, outpacing overall inflation, and a July 2025 AP‑NORC poll shows 76% of U.S. adults view the expense as a major problem, prompting candidates nationwide to prioritize affordability [1][2].
Pennsylvania’s 7th District turns into child‑care referendum Incumbent Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R) faces Democratic challengers Bob Brooks, Carol Obando‑Derstine and Ryan Crosswell, all centering campaigns on expanding tax credits, subsidies and universal pre‑K, echoing former Rep. Susan Wild’s agenda; Mackenzie touts his own tax‑credit bills and visits to centers like Watch Us Grow [1].
Washington Senate advances wealth tax to protect subsidies The state Senate approved a millionaires tax on households earning $1 million or more, positioning the revenue to safeguard the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) program for roughly 37,000 families, while Governor Bob Ferguson backs a wealth tax but rejects the current bill’s allocation [2].
Providers and families feel the strain In Pennsylvania, Active Learning Centers reported a 30% enrollment decline and insurance costs soaring from $57 K to $445 K annually; Watch Us Grow now has a 50‑family waitlist. In Washington, 25‑year‑old Aria Stroe credits WCCC with exiting homelessness, earning a medical‑assistant certificate and pursuing nursing, illustrating the program’s life‑changing impact [1][2].
Tight timelines shape legislative outcomes Washington lawmakers have less than a month—24 days—to finalize a budget before the March 12 deadline, determining the fate of the child‑care subsidy. Pennsylvania’s 2026 midterm race intensifies as the swing 7th District’s voters weigh child‑care affordability against broader issues [1][2].
Sources
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1.
CNN: Child‑care costs dominate Pennsylvania’s 7th District race —Analyzes national price spikes, voter concern, and candidate platforms emphasizing tax credits and universal pre‑K, with detailed provider data .
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2.
King5: Washington Senate Advances Millionaires Tax Amid Child‑Care Subsidy Rally —Reports Senate’s wealth‑tax passage, Governor Ferguson’s objections, parent rally for WCCC, and the looming budget deadline .
Timeline
2020‑2024: National child‑care prices jump 29%, outpacing inflation, intensifying financial strain on families and providers[1].
2024 election: Incumbent Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R) defeats former Rep. Susan Wild in Pennsylvania’s 7th District, keeping the seat Republican and setting a 2026 contest where child‑care affordability becomes a central issue[1].
July 2025: An AP‑NORC poll shows 76% of U.S. adults view child‑care costs as a major problem, making the issue a pivotal theme in upcoming midterms[1].
Feb 4, 2026: Nearly 100 child‑care providers and parents rally at the Washington State Capitol, warning Governor Ferguson’s $800 million budget cuts—38% of which target child‑care—could cripple the system and force closures, and a parent declares, “Do I pay for childcare or do I leave the workforce?”[3].
Feb 4, 2026: The governor’s proposal would cut subsidies for up to 14,000 families from the Working Connections Child Care program, threatening access for lower‑income households[3].
Feb 4, 2026: Lawmakers will review the budget recommendations before the legislative session ends on Mar 12, 2026, as the state confronts a $2.3 billion shortfall[3].
Feb 17, 2026: The Washington State Senate passes a millionaires tax on households earning $1 million or more, aiming to generate revenue to protect the Working Connections Child Care program from cuts[2].
Feb 17, 2026: Governor Bob Ferguson backs a wealth‑based tax but rejects the Senate’s version, demanding a bill that directs more revenue to working families and small businesses[2].
Feb 17, 2026: Hundreds of parents rally outside the Olympia Capitol, with formerly homeless mother Aria Stroe testifying that the WCCC subsidy enabled her to leave homelessness, earn a medical‑assistant certificate and pursue nursing, saying “without it I could not attend school”[2].
Feb 17, 2026: Legislators have 24 days left to finalize the state budget before the Mar 12 deadline, determining whether the child‑care subsidy remains intact[2].
Feb 21, 2026: In Pennsylvania’s 7th District, child‑care costs dominate the race as incumbent Rep. Mackenzie highlights his tax‑credit bills and personal experience balancing work and family, while Democratic challengers Bob Brooks, Carol Obando‑Derstine and Ryan Crosswell push for expanded tax credits, subsidies and universal pre‑K echoing Susan Wild’s reform agenda[1].
Feb 21, 2026: Local providers report a 30% enrollment decline at Active Learning Centers and a surge in insurance costs from $57 K to $445 K annually, while Watch Us Grow carries a 50‑family waitlist, illustrating a broken market that fuels voter concern[1].
Mar 12, 2026 (expected): Washington state lawmakers must complete the budget, deciding the fate of the Working Connections Child Care program and the allocation of revenue from the newly proposed millionaires tax[2][3].
All related articles (3 articles)
External resources (3 links)
- https://ofm.wa.gov/budget/state-budget-2025-27/26-proposed-supplemental/agency-recommendation-summaries/307/?v=401342 (cited 1 times)
- https://apnorc.org/projects/few-concerned-with-declining-birthrates-but-many-worry-about-the-costs-of-child-care-and-favor-paid-family-leave/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.childcareaware.org/price-landscape24/#PriceofCare (cited 1 times)