MADISON – The Joint Committee on Finance is scheduled to meet today to discuss the future of the Child Care Counts program in Wisconsin. Democratic members of the Committee on Joint Finance held a press conference this morning with children, legislators, advocates, small business owners, and community members to demand continued funding for Child Care Counts. In response, Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) issued the following statement:
“My constituents have spoken loud and clear–Wisconsin needs Child Care Counts. Funding for Child Care Counts has been described by my constituents as ‘essential’ and ‘needed’ for a program that ‘has been an invaluable support.’ Today I joined Senate and Assembly Democrats on the front steps of the state Capitol for a final call to Republicans to fund Child Care Counts.
“Speakers from across Wisconsin demanded funding: parents told personal stories of what it’s like to be a working family in need of childcare, childcare providers shared the critical wage raises Child Care Counts provided–allowing them to maintain their staff and keep their classrooms open, a small business owner without children explained how important it is to have affordable and accessible childcare available to his employees in order to keep his business open, and children were standing patiently and respectfully (while also making us laugh–kids are the BEST!) as Democrats made one final appeal to Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee: fund the Child Care Counts program.
“If Republicans do not fund Child Care Counts, 25% of Wisconsin’s childcare centers will close, and childcare costs will increase beyond the extraordinarily high rates families are already struggling to pay–Wisconsin’s economy will suffer, Wisconsin’s working families will suffer, Wisconsin’s small businesses will suffer, and most importantly our kids will suffer.
“Child Care Counts is essential for Wisconsin’s’ families, and the future of our great state. Fund Child Care Counts so we can move forward, together.”
