In Lawrence visit, Obama focuses on working families and child careJan 22, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan.--President Barack Obama's plans for expanded child care tax credits and other middle-class benefits warmed a big crowd in Lawrence on Thursday, even as they continued to face a chilly reception from Republicans in Washington."Middle-class economics works," the president told several thousand people at the University of Kansas, pointing to the recent uptick in jobs and payrolls. "The ruling on the field stands."The Democrat's visit was the second stop on a tour designed to bolster support for proposals aimed at low- and middle-income Americans, including paid sick leave, child care credits and tuition-free community college. The first stop came Wednesday in Boise, Idaho --like Kansas, a conservative state.But few Republicans appeared convinced Thursday."I couldn't agree more that these must be our top priorities in Washington," said U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas in a statement. "I disagree with his ideas on how we get there."Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas was even harsher. "The American people ... want real solutions to the nation's problems, not tired ideological proposals," his statement said.While Obama urged support Thursday for several proposals contained in his State of the Union address, hepaid particular attention to child care. He began his day visiting with children at a Lawrence Head Start center, and he was introduced by a single mother now studying at KU."Affordable, high-quality child care and early childhood education -- these aren't just nice-to-haves, this is a must-have," he said.The White House has proposed a variety of child care-related initiatives, including a nearly threefold increase in the child care tax credit to $3,000 a year for a child under the age of 5.Most experts say the credit would not come close to covering the full cost of day care for young children, which can often cost $1,000 amonth or more....continued