Childcare is getting more expensive, and staffing shortages, rising operating costs, and the loss of pandemic-era funding are all contributing to a crunch for families. Advocates argue this is bad for the economy because it forces parents to miss work, harming them, their employers, and ultimately state finances.
Garrity’s campaign did not respond to questions about whether her administration would seek to make childcare more affordable. Spotlight PA could not locate any information about Garrity’s position on her campaign website or in news articles.
Shapiro and state lawmakers have agreed to a number of proposals targeting the industry since he entered office.
He has acted multiple times to expand Pennsylvania’s Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit. Modeled on the federal Child Tax Credit, the Pennsylvania version was created in 2022 under the previous Democratic administration. It returns a portion of childcare-related expenses that filers claim on their federal tax returns.