– Missouri Chamber of Commerce President, Dan Mehan, vocalizes the need for crucial tax credits to endorse affordable child care.
– The child care crisis in Missouri is deemed “Critical Infrastructure” for employers.
– Mehan associates the defeat of past efforts with state Senate “knuckleheads”.
– The crisis is believed to be affecting Missouri’s economic recovery.
The Muddled Missouri Child Care Situation
If Missouri wishes to tap into some much-needed tax credits to enhance affordable child care, it’ll need to shimmy past what the President of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Dan Mehan, cheekily terms as the “knuckleheads” in the state Senate. Mehan named them while addressing both the audience and panelists at a forum focusing on the states’ exigent child care needs hosted in Columbia.
In his address, Mr. Mehan placed the blame of past failed attempts squarely on the resistant Senate, highlighting an epic stumbling block in the quest to address this crisis. His robust remarks underscored the increasing recognition of child care as “Critical Infrastructure” amongst Missouri employers.
Trading Blows with the Crisis
The reality is that this child care crisis isn’t just about affordability for families; it’s reverberating through the state’s economy. Employees struggling to find reliable and affordable childcare are less productive and more likely to be absent, affecting overall output and potentially slowing down the much-needed economic recovery. It’s not just sentiment; it’s a central system supporting Missouri’s workforce.
The Breezy Take
Despite the playful characterization of “knuckleheads,” Missouri’s child care crisis is anything but comical. It’s an economic issue that needs a serious solution. The push by the likes of Mr. Mehan for essential tax credits to support affordable child care has both social and financial merit. These credits could cultivate a more productive and sizable workforce, acting as the keystone for accelerated economic recovery in Missouri. The buck stops at making the issues relatable and urgent enough to win over the state’s Senate. The rugrats of Missouri won’t know who to thank for it, but they’ll certainly appreciate the results.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/05/critical-infrastructure-missouri-child-care-shortage-called-a-crisis-for-employers/