At the Urging of Moms First and Nearly 15,000 Moms, CNN Asked the Candidates About Child Care at the First 2024 Presidential Debate — but the Candidates Barely Answered
Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/
Last night, during the first debate of the 2024 election, moderators addressed child care costs following pressure from Moms First and supporters. CNN’s Jake Tapper posed a question to President Biden and former President Trump on lowering child care expenses, referencing a report showing that the average cost of child care for two children now exceeds rent costs across all 50 states.
Key Highlight:
-Reshma Saujani, CEO of Moms First, emphasized that child care costs have historically been viewed as a personal burden for mothers rather than a crucial economic issue enabling women to work. She stressed that these costs have become unmanageable, pushing families into debt.
-Saujani praised CNN for addressing child care during the debate, stating it validates the importance of moms’ voices. She noted that Moms First, supported by 15,000 signatures, successfully brought child care to national attention, urging candidates to provide substantive answers on addressing this issue.
-Reshma Saujani criticized both presidential candidates for largely avoiding a direct response to the question on lowering child care costs during the debate. She expressed disappointment that President Biden briefly addressed the issue while the candidates mainly bickered.
-Saujani emphasized Moms First’s dismay at the candidates’ failure to recognize the severity of the child care crisis and its profound effect on American mothers. She underscored the influence of moms as a significant voting bloc that demands genuine solutions to this pressing issue, urging candidates not to overlook their concerns.
-Moms First collaborated with several organizations including Blue Star Families, Bobbie, Care.com, and others on a petition aimed at addressing the child care crisis. This coalition highlights the effectiveness of collective action in advocating for solutions to this pressing issue such as child care, paid leave, and equal pay to achieve gender equality in the United States.
Image Source: https://www.theguardian.com/
