Democrat proposed tax cut for working families defeated by Supermajority

Today, Feb. 19, the House heard amendments to Senate Bill 243, the bill to change Indiana’s tax code to bring it in line with the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act passed by Congress this summer. State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment that would have created a refundable tax credit for child care.  

Hamilton issued the following statement after the amendment was defeated 38-56: 

“When parents can access affordable child care, they stay in the workforce. They contribute. They grow businesses, fill jobs, and pay taxes. When they can't, our entire economy pays the price. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has put a number on that price: $4.2 billion dollars lost annually to our state's economy because families cannot access affordable child care. That is an unnecessary economic headwind for our state, and it is a crisis for families and many employers. And the crisis is quickly getting worse. As of today, 241 child care centers have closed across Indiana and more are closing every month. Young families across the state in Indiana are delaying having kids because of the economic burden.  

“This amendment is one critical step to help stanch the flow — to make child care affordable enough that families can keep their providers in business and stay in the workforce themselves. This amendment is about both supporting economic development and helping families thrive. This working families tax cut would have helped Indiana be a truly family friendly state.”