MADISON – Wednesday, Wisconsin Senate Democrats put forward an amendment to save the Child Care Counts program with $340 in state funding. Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement on Republicans rejecting this amendment on a party line vote:

“It is shameful and wrong that Senate Republicans voted against this amendment which would have saved the Child Care Counts program. The loss of this funding will create generational harm for our state. Child care is a public good. Child care centers and child care workers are vital to our economy, and the Child Care Counts program is desperately needed to ensure we have an effective workforce.

“Over 2,000 child care facilities may close as a result of this loss of funding. Parents will struggle even more than they are now to find a provider, and providers will struggle to keep employees without Child Care Counts. Rather than utilize our historic state surplus to invest in our state, Republicans chose to turn their backs on child care facilities across Wisconsin.”