Republicans vote against extending child care program

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – Republicans who control the state legislature’s budget-writing committee voted against extending funding for a federal child care program.

An 11-4 vote by the Joint Finance Committee puts an end to the program, Child Care Counts, which was started during the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to increase providers and services for child care centers around the state.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that according to Gov. Evers, the program sent $378 million to 4,345 child care providers, which helped to pay for about 22,000 workers and care for about 113,000 children.

Republicans instead voted for increasing the funding for programs run by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, including a $15 million fund to distribute loans to child care providers.

The program expires this year.