Child Tax Credit plan is 'bad politics' for the GOP, opponents say
Voxxi
Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus Campaign for Children, was one of those opponents who signed the letter. He told reporters on Monday that denying the Child Tax Credit to any child is "bad policy and runs contrary to our American values."
"Congress should be focusing on policies that invest in kids and support working families, not policies that threaten to drive even more children into poverty," he said.
Crédito tributario para niños hispanos en peligro en EEUU
La Opinion
Latino and civil rights groups have united against the proposal. According to the National Immigration Law Center ( NILC ) five million citizens will be affected by the measure including two million Hispanics.
"This tax credit covers basic needs like food and rent. We should not consider proposals that will push more children into poverty, "said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus.
Pro-children group blasts GOP tax credit proposal
But First Focus Campaign for Children says the plan comes "when child poverty is already at the highest level in a generation."
"This proposal targets millions of the most vulnerable children in America and threatens to drive even more children into poverty," Bruce Lesley, the group's president, said in a statement. "And our message to members of Congress: find a smarter solution, and don't cut kids."
Protect the Child Tax Credit
A recent proposal by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) would deny the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit, known as the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), to children who lack a Social Security number, the majority of whom live in low-income immigrant families. This change could harm little DREAMers who are growing up in the U.S., being educated in American schools, and comprise a critical segment of the future
U.S. workforce.
Advierten a migrantes EEUU sobre cambio fiscal
YAHOO! Noticias Venezuela (Spanish)
NGOs criticized on Wednesday a Republican proposal that would deny immigrants who entered the country without authorization tax credits granted to taxpayers with children.
During the debate being conducted by the Senate over a three-month renewal of unemployment benefits for 1.4 million unemployed, which expired in December, Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and five other Republicans proposed banning the child tax exemption for to taxpayers who do not have a Social Security number, as a way to offset the cost of $6.300 million.
"I made ​​a sensible proposal that would save billions (of dollars) to prevent illegal immigrants from claiming the child tax exemption," Ayotte said yesterday.
Bruce Lesley, president of the Washington-based advocacy organization The First Focus Campaign for Children, said the proposal " affects millions of vulnerable children in the United States and threatens to bring more children into poverty. Our message to Congress is: find a smart solution, don't exclude children."
GOP senators seek to deny child tax credit to undocumented immigrants
Ayotte's amendment is receiving opposition from pro-children organizations and immigrant rights groups.
First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley released a statement Wednesday expressing his opposition. He said the amendment comes at a time "when child poverty is already at the highest level in a generation."
"This proposal targets millions of the most vulnerable children in America and threatens to drive even more children into poverty," Lesley stated. "And our message to members of Congress: find a smarter solution, and don't cut kids."
The First Focus Campaign previously said that denying the Additional Child Tax Credit to children whose parents file federal income tax returns using an ITIN number would hurt more than 5.5 million children, 4.5 million of whom are U.S. citizens. The group also said the child tax credit has proven effective in protecting children from poverty.
Ayotte Amendment Would Increase Child Poverty
Washington – An amendment authored by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) would deny children access to the refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC). The amendment, filed for possible consideration during Senate floor debate over legislation to restore military pension benefits, would make millions of children – the vast majority of whom are United States citizens – ineligible for the refundable CTC if their parents file federal income tax returns using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), instead of a Social Security Number. In response, the First Focus Campaign for Children released the following statement from First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley:
"It's wrong to target any child, especially when child poverty is already at the highest level in a generation. This proposal targets millions of the most vulnerable children in America and threatens to drive even more children into poverty. And our message to members of Congress: find a smarter solution, and don't cut kids."
Members of Congress Recognized as Champions for Children
Washington — Today, the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national bipartisan children's advocacy group, recognized 100 Members of Congress for leadership on issues important to children during 2013.
"Lots of politicians talk about kids' issues, but few back it up," said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. "Champions and Defenders delivered for kids."
The advocacy organization recognized as "Champions for Children" 50 Members of Congress for their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America's next generation. An additional 50 Members were recognized as "Defenders of Children" for their support of policies that advance the well-being of children.
In selecting Champions and Defenders, the First Focus Campaign for Children noted leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation to meet children's needs. In addition, the organization considered Members who demonstrated extraordinary initiative by spearheading activities such as sponsoring hearings or garnering the support of their colleagues to improve the health and well-being of children. The 2013 Champions and Defenders are:
Voters Want Budget Solutions that Protect Children
With Congressional negotiators working to finalize a short-term budget deal, a new national poll shows strong bipartisan support for children's initiatives. The survey, completed by the Republican polling firm American Viewpoint, underscores voters' concerns about the well-being of today's children and their future prospects. It also demonstrates voters' strong bipartisan support for tax policies that lift children out of poverty, initiatives to prevent child abuse and neglect, and other investment's in children.
When arguing tax reform, keep child poverty in mind
Re: "Eat Your Tax Reform — Attempt at solution eludes Congress again," Sept. 8 Editorials.
The News is right in urging Congress not to miss the opportunity provided by federal tax reform. But the debate can't just be about balance sheets and corporate tax rates — it must also be about children.
Texas kids have a lot at stake. Together, just three federal tax provisions — the dependent exemption, the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit — account for the biggest federal investment in America's children.
By helping parents meet kids' basic needs, they lift millions of children out of poverty every year. With 39 percent of Dallas kids living in poverty (the national average is 23 percent), we can't waste the opportunity tax reform provides to strengthen these protections and build even more effective defenses against child poverty.
But that will only happen if Texas' congressional delegation sends a clear message to both parties that tax reform must be a win for children. With their leadership, we can build a tax code that invests in kids and makes real gains in child poverty.
Bruce Lesley, president, First Focus Campaign for Children, Washington, D.C., @brucelesley