10 family policy differences between Clinton, Trump
Parental leave
Trump: Promises “six weeks of paid maternity leave to any mother with a newborn child whose employer does not provide the benefit.” His plan outlined on his website does not mention if the policy applies to same-sex parents. He says his maternity leave policy will be completely paid for through the unemployment insurance program.
Clinton: Promises 12 weeks of paid family leave to care for biological and adopted children. Her policy applies to parents of either or both genders. According to her website, her parental leave policy will be paid by “tax reforms that will ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.” Parents on parental leave can expect at least 67% of their current wages, up to an as-yet-unspecified ceiling, Clinton says.
How are employers affected?
Subsidized childcare
Clinton’s policy aims to cap childcare at 10%, relying on tax cuts or state block grants to subsidize costs exceeding that mark.
Trump’s childcare policy allows families with a stay-at-home parent to deduct the average cost of childcare from their taxes through an Earned Income Tax Credit. “For low-income individuals who have no net income tax liability, we will offer an expanded earned income tax credit, that’s EITC, in the form of a childcare rebate,” he says. “Working parents can get an expanded EITC benefit that equals up to half of their total payroll tax, a major relief for low-income parents.”
Dependent care savings account
Clinton does not include a dependent care savings account in her policy.
Childcare options
Trump’s childcare plan includes a tax credit for employers to provide childcare at the workplace and contribute to an employees’ cost of childcare.
Eldercare
Clinton’s policy offers a 20% tax credit to offset up to $6,000 in caregiving costs for elderly family members. Caregivers can claim up to $1,200 in tax relief each year, according to her website.
Challenges with the plans
Trump proposes rewriting the tax code to allow working parents to deduct expenses from their income.