Donald Trump made headlines for his blistering attacks on women — particularly working moms. His backwards ideas about working women are in good company tonight, though, when he speaks outside Philadelphia about his scattershot proposal on maternity leave and child care. Senator Pat Toomey has also played politics with the issues that affect working moms most.
In 2014, Toomey blocked a vote on child care legislation that would’ve helped subsidize daycare for 117,000 low income kids in Pennsylvania. Then in 2015, Toomey again hurt programs that help working mothers when he voted against funding for preschool for low income families and children.
Instead of standing with Pennsylvania families and working moms, Pat Toomey is supporting a misogynist for president who believes that pregnant employees are “certainly an inconvenience… for a person that is running a business.” Pennsylvania’s working families and moms deserve better from their senator than to put personal ambitions ahead of programs that benefit children and working moms.
Background:
2014: Toomey Blocked A Child Care Bill Until His School Background Checks Bill Received A Vote
September 2014: Toomey Blocked A Child Care Bill To Boost His Own Student Protection Legislation In 2014. According to the Morning Call, “The Pennsylvania Republican is using a procedural maneuver to hold up a child care bill, arguing that if his legislation requiring school employees to undergo background checks isn’t getting a vote, neither should another bill intended to protect children.” [Morning Call, 9/19/14]
- Toomey Planned To Block The Child Care Bill Until His Bill Got A Vote In The Senate. According to the Morning Call, “But Toomey says he plans to keep blocking the bill – which revamps a grant program that pays for subsidized day care programs that serve 117,000 low-income Pennsylvania children – until he can get a vote on his school background check legislation.” [Morning Call,9/19/14]
The Child Care Bill Revamped A Grant Program That Helps 117,000 Low-Income Pennsylvania Children Go To Day Care. According to the Morning Call, “But Toomey says he plans to keep blocking the bill – which revamps a grant program that pays for subsidized day care programs that serve 117,000 low-income Pennsylvania children – until he can get a vote on his school background check legislation.” [Morning Call, 9/19/14]
School Children Advocate Was “Puzzled” By Why Neither Bill Was Getting A Vote. According to the Morning Call, “‘We would rather at least get one done than none done,’ said Joan Benso, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. ‘We would hope the senator would reconsider his position.’ […] ‘I’m puzzled by why we would put ourselves in the position where we don’t move either good public policy proposal,’ Benso said.” [Morning Call, 9/19/14]
2015: Toomey Voted Against Funding For Preschool For Low Income Children
2015: Toomey Voted Against Providing Funding For States For Preschool For Low Income Children And Raising Taxes On Those Earning More Than $1 Million A Year. In July 2015, Toomey voted against funding preschool for low income children by raising taxes on those earning more than $1 million annually. According Congressional Quarterly, the amendment “would provide funding for states for preschool for low-income children. The amendment would include an offset that would increase taxes on those who earn more than $1 million a year.” The vote was on the amendment; the amendment was rejected by a vote of 45 to 52. [Senate Vote 247, 7/16/15; Congressional Quarterly, 7/16/15]
- Amendment Would Have Provided More Than $30 Billion For “High Quality, Full-Day Preschool,” Promoted Increase Funding For Children With Disabilities, And Maintained Support For Home Visiting Programs.According to CLASP, “Earlier today, the Senate voted against […] [the] Strong Start for America’s Children Amendment, which would have created a five-year innovative federal-state partnership to expand and improve early learning opportunities for children across the birth-to-age-five continuum. More specifically, the amendment provided for: Access to high-quality preschool by providing more than $30 billion in paid-for mandatory formula and grant funding to states—with a required state match—for high-quality, full-day preschool for four-year-old children from families earning below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Support for early learning quality partnerships that meet the high-quality performance standards of Early Head Start and blend federal funds to provide high-quality, full-day child care. Promotion of increased funding to serve children with disabilities in early childhood settings by increasing the authorization level of programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities and of preschool grants for children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Maintained support for home visiting programs and called for their continuation through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program.” [CLASP, 7/16/15]
Published: Sep 13, 2016