Plot twist: Republicans just got families more money

Washington is a funny place. I don't think President Donald Trump was thinking about former President Joe Biden with his One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). But it certainly seems to poke fun at Biden’s BBB (Build Back Better) plan in name — and exceed it in some of its family priorities.

- Abby McCloskey, Tribune News Service

The Democrats’ BBB was all about supporting working families with childcare, paid leave and an expanded Child Tax Credit — but it never made it past the Democratic-held Senate. Somehow it was Republicans who ended up taking ground on these working family policies in their behemoth reconciliation package. How's that for a political scramble?

The OBBBA will impact families in myriad ways — but while Medicaid cuts, Trump Accounts and the expanded Child Tax Credit have all gotten attention, two working family provisions have flown under the radar. The first is child care — specifically, tax incentives to get employers to include it as part of their compensation packages. The law expands the employer-provided child care credit (45F) in size and scope. The law increases the maximum annual credit from $150,000 to $500,000, raises the percentage of qualifying expenses to 40%, and allows small businesses to access a credit up to $600,000 at 50% of qualified expenses. The credit is intended to persuade companies to build or operate child care facilities or to contract with an existing child care provider to secure slots for employees' children.