• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • Close

Dig Bos

The Dig - Greater Boston's Alternative News Source

State Wire: Bill Would Let Candidates Use Campaign Funds For Child Care

Written by KATHRYN CARLEY Posted April 25, 2023 Filed Under: News, News to Us, NEWS+OPINIONS

“That’s an important voice to have at the table when we’re thinking about legislation that’s going to impact families statewide.”


Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to allow candidates seeking state or local office to use campaign funds for child care. Child care is already covered for those seeking a federal office, but Massachusetts law considers it a “personal” expense for which campaign funds cannot be used.

Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, D-Melrose, said covering child-care expenses for political candidates would help eliminate barriers for parents interested in seeking public office.

“And that’s an important voice to have at the table when we’re thinking about legislation that’s going to impact families statewide,” she said.

Lipper-Garabedian added that includes legislation aimed at improving the state’s available child-care options, which are considered some of the most expensive in the U.S. A state commission in 2020 recommended campaign funds be made available for child-care needs only when required for a candidate’s campaign activities.

Lipper-Garabedian said many lawmakers can relate to the challenge of finding consistent, affordable child care whether running a campaign or not, and are supportive of the idea. She added the bill would help diversify the pool of candidates seeking public office, and give working moms a break.

“If you can encourage, in this case perhaps, more women who would be running for office and thinking about having children at home and being able to use funding that would be provided for child-care coverage, that would be really important for opening up a pipeline,” she said.

26 states currently allow campaign funds to cover child-care expenses. House Speaker Rep. Ron Mariano, D-Quincy, has said Democrats plan to make child care a top priority this legislative session.


KATHRYN CARLEY
+ posts

Kathryn Carley began her career in community radio, and is happy to be back, covering the New England region for Public News Service. Getting her start at KFAI in Minneapolis, Carley graduated from the University of Minnesota and then worked as a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio, focusing on energy and agriculture. Moving to Washington, D.C., she filed stories for The Pacifica Network News and The Pacifica Report. Later Carley worked as News Host for New York Public Radio, WNYC as well as Co-Anchor for Newsweek’s long running radio program, Newsweek on Air. Carley also served as News Anchor for New York Times Radio. She now lives near Boston, MA.

  • KATHRYN CARLEY
    https://digboston.com/author/kathryn-carley/
    State Wire: Advocates Push For 'Tax Fairness' With Expanded Child Tax Credits
  • KATHRYN CARLEY
    https://digboston.com/author/kathryn-carley/
    Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System
  • KATHRYN CARLEY
    https://digboston.com/author/kathryn-carley/
    State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts
  • KATHRYN CARLEY
    https://digboston.com/author/kathryn-carley/
    State Wire: Hospitals Collaborate On Suicide Prevention, Treatment

Filed Under: News, News to Us, NEWS+OPINIONS

WHAT’S NEW

State Wire: Advocates Push For 'Tax Fairness' With Expanded Child Tax Credits

State Wire: Advocates Push For ‘Tax Fairness’ With Expanded Child Tax Credits

Mass Lawmakers Hear Testimony On Cannabis Testing, Medical Access

Mass Lawmakers Hear Testimony On Cannabis Testing, Medical Access

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Primary Sidebar

LOCAL EVENTS

AAN Wire


Most Popular

  • AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”
  • Deep Cuts Brings Sandwiches, Craft Beer, And Live Music To Medford
  • Over Yondr: Are Cell Phone Pouches At Shows Liberating, Dangerous, Or Annoying?
  • Daring Greatly: TikTok Star Alden McWayne (aka Gucci Pineapple) On Scheming And Dreaming
  • Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Customer Service

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an email blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: sales@digboston.com To reach editorial (and for inquiries about internship opportunities): editorial@digboston.com