SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Democratic state lawmaker hopes to make payments for childcare services easier on families struggling to get by. Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) says Illinois families living in poverty should only have to pay $1 per month for child care.
The Pritzker administration lowered childcare payments for eligible families to $1.25 for the first two months of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ford wants to make this emergency idea a law. His proposal for a $1 monthly co-pay would only be in place for families with income at or below 185% of current federal poverty guidelines.
Ford says families should be able to send their children to child care and keep more money to pay bills and put food on the table.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered his 2021 budget address on Feb 17. He is once again proposing an unbalanced budget based on hypothetical revenues and tax hikes.