All too often, divided control of government can be a recipe for increased partisanship and gridlock, especially when elected leaders place ambition and acrimony over actual results. One notable exception is Vermont, where there is tripartisan support for child care policies that will improve the health and well-being of kids.
During Gov. Phil Scott’s campaign, he promised to boost funding for Vermont’s child care programs. The governor reiterated the pledge in his January state budget address, saying that he plans “to make it more accessible and affordable for low-income and working families, so that all kids have a chance to thrive.”
As CEO of Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), I was pleased to recently join Gov. Scott, House Speaker Mitzi Johnson and Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe at the Robin’s Nest Child Care Center in Burlington and at the Statehouse to highlight the educational and economic impacts of increasing access to high-quality, affordable child care. Together with my friend Jennifer Garner, a Save the Children trustee, we not only talked about the importance of investing in early care, but we also witnessed its potential to grow the economy, make Vermont more affordable and protect the most vulnerable.