Democratic NC assemblywoman voices support for Harris’ proposed child tax credit expansion

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The Harris-Walz campaign is expected to reveal additional details of Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic plan before next week’s debate. We already know some of those specifics, including her child tax credit proposal, which she revealed in Raleigh several days prior to the Democratic National Convention.

Harris proposes expanding the child tax credit to $6,000 during a baby’s first year, $3,600 dollars for ages two to five, and $3,000 dollars afterwards. The credit is capped when a couple filing jointly makes $400,000 dollars a year or $200,000 for single filers.

Democratic state representative Sarah Crawford said she supports the expansion. “When we extend the child tax credit, when we increase the number, we can cut child poverty,” she said. We saw the rate of that child poverty cut in half a couple of years ago. We just need to keep doing more of these policies to ensure American families can get ahead.”

Crawford said that the economy is among the top concerns she hears about from her Wake County constituents. The affordability of raising a family is helped by the current child tax credit of $2,000, which was higher during the pandemic.

Harris’ child tax credit proposal is estimated to cost around $1.6 trillion dollars over 10 years. Crawford believes billionaires should share that cost through taxes. “Especially with rising costs and making sure that every single American can do more than just get by, [billionaires] can absolutely thrive,” Crawford said. “We have to focus on those individuals that are in that income bracket.”

As for the cost to taxpayers who don’t have children Crawford said, “You can say the people who are paying taxes, are not getting these credits, but they are getting so much community benefit when we invest in critical infrastructure that everybody needs.”

For former president Donald Trump, a child tax credit plan has not been fully made public. But a campaign official told CBS 17, “President Trump will consider a significant expansion of the child tax credit that applies to American families.”

When asked about the child tax credit on Meet the Press, Trump’s running mate, Ohio senator JD Vance said he’d like to see the credit at $5,000 per child without an income limit. “We think it should be bigger,” he said. I think President Trump and I believe in expanded child tax credit.  But we also want to actually get this thing done.”

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