Campbell offers amendment to create child care tax deduction

INDIANAPOLIS - State Representative Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) today offered an amendment to House Bill 1002 to help families with young children get ahead on child care costs.

Amendment 15 would create a state income tax deduction for employment related child care expenses. 

According to Procare Solutions, average infant care in Indiana costs over $1,000 per child per month and child care for the average 4-year-old is nearly $800 per child per month.

“With Republicans looking at tax cuts due to the state’s large revenue forecast, we should be focusing on increasing benefits for the working families which need it most,” Campbell said. “It is disappointing that this body has once again passed on delivering much needed relief to Hoosier parents.

“We need to do more to help Hoosiers tackle the growing costs of child care. Families are feeling the pressures of paying child care expenses each month while also setting long-term goals such as saving for college.”

House Republicans defeated the amendment with a vote of 25-57.