By Nikki Truax
Today Child Welfare remains to have key components being argued in Washington, D.C., and while there are so many topics that factor into child welfare, the Republicans and Democrats are on separate spectrums when it comes to the passing of the healthcare reform known as the Affordable Care Act. In 2010, President Obama fulfilled a promise that the Democrats had for almost a century strived to make happen, and that was to make healthcare readily available to Americans.
The Democrats argued that by passing the law, The Affordable Care Act, it would ensure that by, “2014 this health reform will be able to eliminate all discrimination for pre-existing conditions, start the process of expanding health insurance coverage for an additional 32 million Americans, and provide the largest middle-class tax cut for healthcare in history.” However, the Republicans countered this claim, by renaming this law as “Obamacare”, and were outraged and used the media to show their disapproving nature. For example, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli went on Twitter, and tweeted, “This is a dark day for the American people, the Constitution, and the rule of law”. So, is this the only thing that they differ on when it comes to child welfare?
When discussing families and children, both parties agree on the need for a strong family core, and the enforcement of the law in regards to child neglect, child support, and child abuse. However, the Republican views do shift in regards to “families”. For instance, the Republicans support abstinence and fatherhood; therefore, they propose replacing “family planning” programs for teens, with funding “abstinence education” instead. Also, Republican says the caseloads need to be decreased, and the accountability in the child protection system needs to be increased. Furthermore, the government should work with faith-based adoption agencies, to help encourage adoptions, because Republicans are pro-life. Finally, Republicans call to action for local efforts to help children of prisoners.
However, Democrats believe in a sound, evidence- based partnership with faith-based and non-profit organizations that help the people in need, and advance those with shared interest. The Democrats platform talks a lot about “helping the middle-class”, and the try to achieve that by raising the minimum wage, and the Earned Income Credit (EIC). Also, the Democrats want to extend the Child Credit so parents that are working Full-Time, are not still raising their child in poverty. Their goal is to have healthcare and transportation more readily available to everyone. And, as with the Republicans, the Democrats feel the child support should be enforced, and promote responsible fatherhood together with religious and civic organizations in the community.
Therefore, with the changes taking place, the government looks to extend expanded tax cuts for the lower-income families, and to put Americans back to work through growth and creating jobs. With reforming child welfare in particular, this administration has included a budget of 2.5 billion over the next 10 years. This will include new mandatory funding for incentive payment to states that demonstrate real and meaningful improvements on the handling of child abuse and neglect. This incentive would help states finance services and continue to improve child welfare services.
References:
“HealthCare”. (nd). Retrieved from www.democrats.org/issues/healthcare.htm
On the Issue. “Democratic Party on Welfare and Poverty”. (nd). Retrieved from www.celeb/democratic_party_welfare+_poverty.htm
On the Issue. “Republican Views on Families and Children”. (nd). Retrieved from www.ontheissue.org/celeb/republican_party_families_+_children.htm
Walden, K. (2012, June). “The Eight Stages of Conservative Grief”. Retrieved from www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/2012/06/repulican.htm
