#NewMexico joins countries such as #Norway & #Belgium that offer #free #universal #childcare for #children under 3, & #Bulgaria, where early childhood #education is free for all children until elementary school. New Mexico is going further by offering no-cost child care for children up to age 13.
Alison McPartlon, director of the University of #NewMexico Taos Kids' Campus #childcare center, said her waiting list is so long some #children do not get in before they start kindergarten. She said the higher reimbursement rates will help her retain & recruit #educators.
"There will be more centers coming up," said McPartlon, describing the shift to #universal child care as "incredible."
To achieve a fully universal system, #NewMexico must create nearly 14k more #childcare slots & recruit 5k #educators, acc/to its #Democratic-run #government. The state is establishing a $12.7 million low-interest loan fund to construct & expand #child #care facilities. It is also increasing reimbursement rates to providers that #pay entry-level staff a minimum of $18 per hour, above the state's $12 hourly minimum wage, & offer full-time care.
Congressional #Republicans have a different plan—more giant tax cuts for #billionaires & big #corporations, ending the Affordable Care Act [#ACA], undermining workers by cutting #overtime & making it harder to #organize, & imposing a national sales #tax that would raise costs by nearly $4k/year. While they put billionaires first, we’ll keep fighting to grow the #MiddleClass.
#economy #Bidenomics #OpportunityEconomy #DemocratsDidThat #unions #VoteBlue #HarrisWalz2024
Make no mistake: We have more to do to lower #costs & expand #opportunity. #Congress should pass our plan to build millions of new #homes, expand prescription #drug price caps, empower #workers & protect the #RightToOrganize, & cut #taxes for hardworking #families.
#economy #Bidenomics #OpportunityEconomy #DemocratsDidThat #unions #VoteBlue #HarrisWalz2024
Under my [the #Biden] Administration, #unemployment has been the lowest in 50 yrs, a record 19M new businesses have been created, & #inflation & #InterestRates are falling. And we’re seeing the power of #CollectiveBargaining to lift up #workers’ wages—including the progress made by #dockworkers on record #wages w/carriers, & #port operators & the reopening of East Coast & Gulf #ports.
#economy #Bidenomics #DemocratsDidThat #ILA #unions #VoteBlue #HarrisWalz2024
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#POTUS Joe #Biden on the September #Jobs Report
Today, we received good news for American workers & families with more than 250k new jobs in Sept & #unemployment back down at 4.1%. With today’s report, we’ve created 16M jobs, unemployment remains low, & #wages are growing faster than #prices.
1/
#economy #Bidenomics #DemocratsDidThat #VoteBlue #HarrisWalz2024
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/04/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-september-jobs-report/
#POTUS recounted his various #legislative achievements, arguing they helped put the country back on track after the #COVID19 #pandemic, lower the #unemployment rate & bolster the #MiddleClass.
#Biden cited the $1.2T bipartisan #infrastructure #law that funded improvements to roadways, railways, ports & airports across the country.
He pointed to the #Chips & #Science Act, another bipartisan piece of #legislation that funded investments in semiconductor chip manufacturing.
If disparities exist between mental & medical care, insurers will need to lay out how they are attempting to address these gaps.
“#MentalHealth care is #HealthCare. But for far too many Americans, critical care & treatments are out of reach,” #POTUS Joe #Biden said in a press release announcing the final rules. “There is no reason that breaking your arm should be treated differently than having a mental health condition.”
[damn straight!]
#DemocratsDidThat #accountability #medical #policy #law
#Democrats in the #Arizona Legislature made a final push Wed to repeal the state’s long-dormant #ban on nearly all #abortions, which the state’s supreme court said can be enforced.
Voting wasn’t complete but the Senate had the 16 votes it needed to advance.
14 Dems in the Senate were joined by 2 Republican votes in favor of repealing the bill
#DemocratsDidThat #VoteBlue #ReproductiveRights #law
https://apnews.com/article/arizona-abortion-1864-ban-repeal-24578e546b69ca087e01034bcaf4aa01
The Arizona Legislature has approved a repeal of a long-dormant ban on nearly all abortions. The vote to undo the 19th century law will send the bill to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Two Republicans joined with 14 Democrats in the Arizona Senate on Wednesday to give final legislative approval to the repeal, which narrowly won approval a week ago from the Arizona House and is expected to be signed by Hobbs once it arrives at her office. The near-total ban permits abortions only to save the patient’s life and provides no exceptions for survivors of rape or incest.
Nonilex