To the editor,

We got another chance to see the true stripes of the GOP-led Wisconsin legislature early Friday. Late at night, about 2:30 in the morning, the Joint Finance Committee voted to end the Child Care tax credit.

Nothing is more "working class" than a family using child care. By definition, they need to have jobs, which means they can't care for their kids during the day. It's pricey, usually around $1,000 per child per month. The tax credit had helped by providing up to $4,000 for one child and $8,000 for two or more (maximums, it was a sliding scale based on income).

A millionaire probably doesn't care too much if daycare costs $500 or $2,500 a month. It won't break them or make them think they'll have to quit their job to care for the child. Someone earning $15 or $20 an hour will, though. We all know people in this situation – wants to work but can't afford daycare. These people aren't free-loaders; they have to have jobs, the kids must be their dependents and the kids must have social security numbers. The unemployment rate is really low and employers are scrambling for workers, but daycare costs keep people from the workforce.

Our representative Shannon Zimmerman from River Falls is on the committee that voted to kill funding for this over the objections from Democrats and providers. There is an enormous surplus this year with tax cuts for the richest people, but no help for the working families.

Jim Camery

River Falls