Thread by @EichnerMaxine

A THREAD: Groups claiming to be “pro-family” (but really supported by billionaires) are mobilizing against Biden’s proposal of $300 monthly checks to children under 6, and $250 checks to older children.#1

https://twitter.com/JStein_WaPo/status/1354804395985170434

Their claim that these checks would do more harm than good for families is COMPLETELY WRONG. Real experts on family wellbeing patently disagree with them. (See this report, for example. comment.ipsp.org/chapter/chapte… Disclosure: I was on this international panel.)#2

1 in 5 US children now lives in poverty, including almost 1 in 4 Black and Hispanic children. Nearly 1 in 6 children aren’t even getting enough to eat. Monthly checks would ensure a “floor” of income to these children.#3

But it’s more than poor families who need these checks: Almost 1/2 of US households in the United States lost employment income since March 2020, and disproportionately those with children. (No surprise, given widespread school and daycare closures require parents to be home.)#4

Even before COVID, 1/2 of US families had no savings to cover emergency expenses. Their loss of income this year means their spending on children will take a hit. But research shows that whether children get consistent resources critically affects their development.#5

The businesses that these billionaires supported for government relief can take a pause during the pandemic. But children’s needs can’t. #6

The importance of consistent support for kids is why almost every other wealthy democracy besides the US provides regular child benefits -- and also why US children rank so far below these other countries on measures of wellbeing. #7

These fake “pro-family” folks claim that child benefits would reduce labor force participation. But many parents need to be home in the pandemic because of school and daycare closures. And countries with good family benefits have kids who do better AND higher workforce rates. #8

These fake family groups also argue that child benefits would involve government and therefore reduce economic growth. The opposite is more likely true: increasing family benefits increases economic growth because children become healthier, more productive adults.#9

But the bottom line is that the real goal of our economy has to be ensuring that people, and particularly our children, get what they need to flourish. These checks would help make that happen even during the pandemic. #10

@threadreaderapp unroll

Can we afford these benefits? Far less wealthy countries than ours, including Estonia, whose per capita GDP is roughly a third of ours, give generous family benefits. All we need to do is muster the political will.#11 @JStein_WaPo