Help for Hard Working Louisiana Families
High Quality Child Care Bills Signed

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco – along with representatives from Louisiana Association of United Ways, Louisiana Association of Non-profits and Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families – held a bill signing in Baton Rouge on July 24th for the Earned Income Tax Credits, School Readiness Tax Credits, and Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program Expansion. The bill signing took place the Early Learning Center located at the First United Methodist Church.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a strategic investment in Louisiana's working families.  The EITC has been identified as a solution to poverty since its inception in 1975. Governor Blanco’s signature of Senate Bill 341 by Senator Lydia Jackson will create the first refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit in the South and the 23rd in the country. 

Also critical to the needs of Louisiana's families is high quality child care.  Governor Kathleen Blanco adopted the School Readiness Tax Credit as part of her legislative package prior to the beginning of the 2007 Regular Session. The School Readiness Tax credit is the first step to building support for the state’s new Quality Rating System that will be implemented by the Department of Social Services. The School Readiness Tax Credits created by Senate Bill 361 by Senator Ann Duplessis will ensure that low income families have access to high quality child care for their children. This is the first tax package of its kind in the country.

Expansion of the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP).  House Bill 542, authored by Rep. Monica Walker, was also part of the Governor’s legislative package. This measure expands eligibility for LaCHIP to children in families whose income falls between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty level.

Charmaine Caccioppi, President of Louisiana Association of United Ways, presented plaques to a few of the people who played important roles in the passing of these bills:  Governor Blanco, Louisiana State Senators Lydia Jackson, Ann Duplessis and Mike MIchot along with Raymond Jetson of the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps.

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