Mass. lawmakers, pass House’s more generous Child and Family Tax Credit
Originally published on The Boston Globe.
Re “The Legislature should stop dithering on tax relief” (Editorial, July 5): As state legislators look to act fast on their long-awaited tax relief package, they must ensure that compromise does not come at the expense of more than 1 million Massachusetts children, dependents, and their families.
Of the many provisions included in the proposed tax relief packages, one that varies significantly between the House and Senate proposals is the benefit level of Governor Maura Healey’s new Child and Family Tax Credit. The House version includes a credit of $600 per eligible dependent phased in over three years, a much more supportive benefit than the Senate’s at $310 per dependent.
Tax credits are proven programs that lift children out of poverty, improve health, and support economic mobility. The temporary expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit in 2021 helped families pay for education and child care and better afford necessities.
In a state with rising housing costs and the most expensive child care in the country, many families struggle to afford basic needs. As lawmakers strive to make the Commonwealth more affordable and competitive, they must prioritize children, adults with disabilities, and their families by including the House version of the Child and Family Tax Credit in the final tax relief package.
Jeremy Rosen
Newtonville
The writer is a graduate student at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and currently works for Children’s HealthWatch and Strategies for Children in Boston.
