"The state and local governments should play a very minor role in child care. . .The majority of the decisions made by the government about child care should be made by the federal government." GA

"The federal government is the place at which improvements must begin in order for child care to expand to all needed areas. State and local levels of child care cannot and will not improve until enough standards and regulations are established and upheld. Also, expansion in the child care field will not occur unless appropriate funds are generated. Congress must continue to take the proper steps to make child care better, and we as a nation, must support them." IL

". . .the burden for solutions was rendered to he states. On paper, this appears to be a feasible solution, but in reality it leads to total disarray. The slavery issue is a prime example. Individual states were left to decide their own fate. The result----the Civil War." OK

"We have a federal postal service--why not have a federal daycare service for major cities and local daycare centers that receive federal aid and operate by federal guidelines." OH

Some students favored taxes to fund government's role in child care . . .

"It is a well-known fact that citizens of the United States are violently opposed to tax increases. Therefore, the government most often tries all other solutions before raising taxes. However, in the case of child care, a tax raise is almost inevitable. If the government wishes to provide better day care centers at lower costs, a larger amount of money is definitely necessary. One should reconsider his or her aversion to high taxes and look to the possibilities of the future. A few more dollars from one's income could be well-spent contributing to the production of more strong and effective leaders for tomorrow." AL

"People dislike taxes, but can find it in their hearts to give for the future of the country." MI

"Poor people should get lower taxes because they are the ones that really need money. The wealthy should get higher taxes and some of these taxes should be used to help pay for some of the day-care centers that poor people use. . .If we use taxes to pay for day-care centers, then the poor don't have to use much of their paycheck for their children's child care needs."NE

"Many people feel that the government could, instead of paying thousands of dollars for tools that (should) cost ten dollars, put the money into things that taxpayers need and can use. One of these things that the tax payer's money could be put into is a governmental child care program. . . The taxpayers would . . .support a raise in taxes if they felt that they were actually getting something out of paying their taxes." FL

"Americans would do well to learn from the examples set by Sweden, Britain and other welfare states, but they cannot do so unless they are willing to pay higher taxes, or to change their philosophy of government." CA

"With all of the problems of today's child care facilities, government intervention is a must. although it would raise taxes, I believe our children are worth it, and besides they are tomorrow's leaders. . .Our country gives millions of dollars for aid to third world countries. I know that those third world countries are in dire straits, but I also believe that we should take care of our own people, especially our children, before we take care of foreign nations." AL

"Although the word taxes is a hated word, a small additional tax could be added to property taxes and earmarked for childcare centers." OH

"If I were asked to solve the child care issue, I would propose that the government set up professional child care facilities with authorized personnel to look after the children, but not take the money out of the taxpayer's pockets. I would suggest that the parents who wanted their children in a professional child care center should pay a special tax to keep their children in these facilities." VA

"To pay for building, renting or leasing these day care centers we could make a national lottery that would help fund the day care centers, and also lay taxes off a little bit. The rich could also pay in taxes and income taxes." NE

"Because child care is such an important issue, I feel that there should be a certain amount of funds appropriated by local and state governments toward child care. Another alternative to funding for child care is a better tax return policy for parents who list their children as dependents on their tax form. Still another alternative could be for the government to pass a bill in which businesses which employ a certain number of people would have to set up some form of day care."PA

"How can the load on the working mothers (and fathers) of America be lessened? One way might be for the government to make grandparents and aunts and uncles over eighteen eligivle for federal funds if they are caring for children whose mothers work. Another idea might be to provide a fund for mothers with newborns. The mother would have the government withhold a certain amount of her paycheck designated 'childcare' to use for the care of the child. The government would also add a small percentage of the amount to help the mother meet her child care needs." SD

"What is best for the children? Politicians have been asking each other a lot but have not really come up with a good answer. I was raised in a divorced family and my mom had to go back to work. . . So I am for any reform that would help a child, even if it led to more taxes. I think that is truly best for not only the children of America, but for America as a whole." OH

"We can't expect miracles from the government right now, so it is time for us, the American people to make sacrifices." CT

Tax Credits Were Suggested As A Way To Fund Childcare. . .

"If a parent wants a good child care provider, one should have to pay more. . .One possible solution would be for the government to refund parents money spent for day care. With this plan, parents could afford to pay more, knowing they will be repaid in their tax refund." KS

"Parents who choose to send their children to a private day care, maybe because they prefer the curriculum taught, receive no tax credit. This is unfair because these are the parents that are having to pay for the government regulated day cares and also the private day care of their choice. In order to benefit all parents with children in a day care, a tax credit should be given to all familes with children in any day care." AL

"Just because a huge constituency exists for child care doesn't mean it's a good idea. A compassionate government ought to concentrate its welfare resources on its neediest, that is its poorest citizens. In my view, this means we should grant added tax relief to the working poor."PA

"In addition, if the government offered tax deductions to parents who have children in day care, the care workers should also be able to receive tax deductions because they receive such little pay." AZ

"One solution is to refund taxes to parents who must pay expensive child care costs. " KS

The starting of a precedent and establishment of tax laws which would give special incentives to child care centers and businesses who provide care, is the best way to go about addressing the issue. In a time when the government has no choice but to take action, this policy is the safest and most effective way to solve the problem. Because if we do not, who will care for the children?" PA

But Most Young People Thought Americans Already Pay Enough Taxes . . .

". . .if the child care bill is passed a revolt in the middle class will emerge for two reasons. The first reason is the 20% tax credit for child care expenses which they now have will be restricted. The second reason is the families that are well off will have to pay taxes on companies that provide day care centers." TX

"I think that they should not have special taxes to take care of the kids because the people that do not have any kids will be paying for other kids to be supported, and why should other people be forced to do this if they do not even have children. Instead, local groups can help out in other ways. I know where I am from they have special drives for the people who need financial help. Then when they ;have it all collected, all the donations, they give small portions of it to all the families who need help." NE

"I oppose child care legislation that involves the increasing of taxes and the loss of benefits to United States taxpayers. The families that depend on these benefits will be hurt severely. The increased taxes will cause much unnecessary hardship on these hardworking people. I feel that this is unfair to single out one group and hurt others in the process." OR

"If you came up to a stranger on the street and asked him if he liked his tax dollars to support working parents' children. What do you think he would say? "I work very hard for my money and I do not think my money should go to other parents' child care." My mother quit her job so she could take care of my brothers, and sisters, and me. I don't think my parents received a bit of money from the government for it either." OK

"In this great country of ours it always seems that it's the average taxpayer that is always 'picking up the tab' for people who are looking to take advantage of any government program that comes along. This may or may not be true, but let's face facts here, are you willing to pay for the upbringing of a child you will never meet, (and never) see? I'm not." NY

"The majority of America's society is not willing to pay higher taxes. If the government did interfere on this issue, many problems would arise." AL

". . .the government is trying to get money for the families that need it; but by raising taxes it would all cancel out because the taxes of the families that need money will be raised too." NE

". . .parents choosing to have their children attend daycare provided by a church to help instill Christian morals and values would be deprived of tax credit in addition to paying the full costs of daycare and also higher taxes." AL

"Right now federal, state and local taxes have American citizens so bent over, most could not afford to pay for things which they need let alone something that is not any of their concern." TX

"I would not like my taxes raised because a single parent is unable to afford day care. The responsibility for that child is on the parents. I don't want to be accused of being narrow-minded, but to put it bluntly, I'm not my brother's keeper. I feel that the taxpayers that don't have children, or even the taxpayers who do have children, or even the taxpayers who do have children, have enough taxes of their own, and shouldn't have to carry the burden of other's." NY

"Whenever the government comes in, it always means more money for the taxpayers, even if the government is not wanted." AL

"Again the purpose of government is to do for us those few things that we delegate to it which we do not effectively do ourselves . . .The government by definition is nonproductive. it merely collects taxes from the people. Therefore how can the government do something for you without taking it away from someone else." OK

"If the government would just 'purify' their spending and cut down on mismanagement of funds, sunset some of the current programs, and have the courage to accept some innovations in child care programs, the money could be found and applied to this very real and growing problem." TX