Negotiations continued into the weekend as the White House and Democratic leaders from the Senate and House continued to work on what gets in the final reconciliation legislation. Most if not all proposed programs will be at least reduced in size or length of time while other issues could be left out altogether.
One of CWLA’s top priorities, the Child Tax Credit (CTC) seems almost certain to be extended for only one or two years. It also appears likely that the paid family and medical leave program may be reduced from 12 weeks of paid leave to something closer to four weeks. Child care continues to be a top priority for many and may be able to survive some of the deepest reductions from the child care expansion bill that was adopted this summer by the House Education and Labor Committee. Health care is also a balancing act with three goals in competition, extension of the ACA, extending health insurance in those 12 states that refuse to extend Medicaid coverage under the ACA, and an expansion of Medicare covered services.
Whatever the final cost is, it is expected to be paid for through tax increases and some program savings. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) has been resistant to many of the rollbacks of the Trump-presidency tax cuts but there seemed to be some agreement in this area as we entered the weekend.
The goal remains to get it all done by October 31, and that would include approval of the earlier Senate-passed infrastructure legislation.
