On this week’s In Focus Missouri, host Lori Chung talks to legislators about the updated child care tax credit legislation that initially passed in the House. Chung talks to State Senator Cindy O’Laughlin, R- Shelbina,  about the similar legislation that passed last year, but why it didn’t make it into law then and what might happen now.

Sen. O’Laughlin talks about how child care costs more per hour than what minimum wage is in the state and how there aren’t enough facilities to account for the needs of parents. She also explains how a child care desert impacts not only parents, but also employers. Senator O’Laughlin shares her background in the education community and why she feels supporting children and their futures is a top priority. 

Following that, State Representative Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph, explains the connection between childcare and the economy. Rep. Shields talks about the three child care tax credits and what they are. She discusses why child care is important to parents and places of business, since employers often complain of retention and recruitment due to lack of child care options for parents. Rep. Shields emphasizes that the state lost too much money due to not enough affordable child care facilities and how Missouri will flourish if the legislation gets passed and signed into law.  

Lastly, Show Me Institute’s Elias Tsapelas explains the impact of good education. He talks about how they research how schools are doing and where their resources are being allocated to as a useful tool to parents researching different districts. Tsapelas shares the open enrollment policy, where families can send their children to schools not in their zipcodes. He also discusses how education will be impacted by federal rollbacks. Tsapelas talks about statewide tax credits and why it may not be working the way it should. He emphasizes that childcare tax credit may not necessarily mean more facilities or cheaper options.