The Biden White House on Tuesday expressed openness to working with Republican Sen. Mitt Romney on child tax credit payments, after the Utah lawmaker called for a bipartisan approach on the issue.
“We’re going to work with anybody who’s interested in taking steps to lower costs for the American people, whether it’s on child care or elder care or healthcare,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters, when asked about Romney’s recent statement.
Romney has proposed a program similar to the monthly CTC payouts that look set to end due to opposition from Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who also opposes other parts of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act.
“Now that it is clear ‘Build Back Better’ isn’t moving forward and with bipartisan opposition to extending the President’s ill-crafted Child Tax Credit, the Administration has an opportunity to do what it failed to do before — actually work with Republicans and Democrats on a lasting, fiscally-responsible CTC reform,” Romney said in a statement on Monday.
“Legislation that impacts something as important as our children must be done on a bipartisan basis, and I urge my colleagues to come to the negotiating table to get something done for American families.”
Other prominent Republican lawmakers also have proposed CTC-like programs, with Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley backing a Parent Tax Credit of $6,000 for single parents, or $12,000 for married parents filing a joint tax return.
MarketWatch’s Robert Schroeder contributed to this report.
This report was first published on Dec. 21, 2021.
