The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill, passed last week by the House of Representatives, includes provisions that will immediately stimulate the economy, help create jobs and make long-term, effective investments to keep the nation's economy growing while at the same time improving the health, education and well-being of children, according to the Children's Leadership Council.
The CLC is urging Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins - two moderate Republicans considered crucial to efforts to pass the bill - to vote in favor of the recovery package.
"The youngest and most vulnerable victims of today's economic crisis are our children," said Bill Bentley, president and CEO of Voices for America's Children and founding member of the Children's Leadership Council. "With an estimated 13 million children currently suffering the impacts of poverty, we cannot afford to wait. Senators Snowe and Collins must stand up for Maine's children and support an economic recovery package that creates jobs while preparing children for school, work and life."
"On behalf of children in Maine and all children nationwide, the Children's Leadership Council urges Senators Snowe and Collins to make a commitment to support the economic recovery package that invests in children and strengthens America," said Bentley.
The Children's Leadership Council is a coalition of 36 national policy and advocacy organizations working to improve the health, education and well-being of children and youths in order to prepare them for school, work and life.
Mark Zandi of Moody's Economy.com notes that while many tax cuts have a lower "bang for the buck" in terms of stimulating, tax benefits which support low and moderate income individuals and families - like the expansion in the EITC and the Child Tax Credit - are effective.