Child Care Will Be on the Ballot in Several U.S. States

In this podcast episode, J.R. Whalen and Harriet Torry tackle the urgent issue of childcare funding in the United States. They engage in a thought-provoking discussion about local ballot initiatives, critiques of government involvement, and the shifts in the childcare landscape following COVID-19. Torry highlights various state-level efforts aimed at making childcare more affordable, often through tax increases, while also pointing out the economic consequences of limited childcare access on workforce participation. The conversation explores the differing strategies states are adopting, the childcare business model's struggles worsened by the pandemic, and the absence of federal action, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions to this complex crisis.