September 14, 2016

First up, let's stipulate that Ivanka Trump lies in this segment. Hillary Clinton's plan for childcare is at her website (just like a link to her tax returns, Ivanka) so, you're a liar, just like your dad. The New York Times contrasts the two childcare plans succinctly:

Of the plans put forward by the presidential candidates, Mrs. Clinton’s is the only one that makes a valid attempt to reap those benefits [of mothers working outside the home]. It focuses on affordability and quality through expanded tax credits to help low- and middle-income families pay for child care and government subsidies to support day care centers that meet federal standards. The plan also includes an expansion of Head Start. It would be largely paid for in the near term by raising taxes on high-income Americans.

Mr. Trump’s plan would provide a tax deduction equal to the average cost of child care in a state, an approach that would give high-income parents a tax savings of up to nearly 40 percent of their deductible expenses while granting low- and middle-income parents a break of up to about 8 percent at most. Since Mr. Trump makes no provision to pay for this plan, its cost would presumably be added to the already gaping deficit that would be created by his proposed $9.5 trillion income-tax cut.

Yes, I know Ivanka comes across as the "nice" Trump who is interested in protecting the Trump brand, and to that end "softening" her father's image and deportment.

And I truly believe that she thinks that the Trump campaign having a childcare proposal is just the thing to make women voters realize voting for her dad is not something scary, because look, he's on your side!

But she's wrong. And she's wrong because she is blind to people who are not like her.

Looking at IvankaTrump.com's "Women who Work" segment, you'll see profiles of fifty-six "working women." All of them are C-class (CEOs) or the equivalent. On the same exact page you can get advice from a New York City interior designer on "How to Make Your Kid’s Room One You’ll Actually Want to Hang Out In." And also find out what is in the yoga bag of a certain "Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor." Don't forget to click over to the "Meet the Interns" page, where young women from across the country who can afford to fly to New York City, work for free so they can Instagram their "experience" at New York Fashion Week

And so that brings us to the official Trump campaign childcare plan.

First up, tax deductions for day care? Thanks a lot, but forty percent or more of Americans don't pay federal income tax because they are TOO EFFING POOR. This plan is pure trickle down, a proposal that helps those rich enough to itemize their deductions and no one else. And it doesn't help moms who pay more than their salary in day care costs. You can't deduct more than 100% of your paycheck, though betcha Donald's expensive tax attorneys who get paid up front try very hard to do just that on Donald's unpublished returns!

Second, six weeks paid leave for having a baby. This money would be taken out of the "Unemployment Insurance" fund, and will be cost-neutral because Donald will find waste fraud and abuse in the existing program to pay for it. Yay!

This is really scary. Unemployment insurance does not pay full salary and is capped at a maximum amount by the states. Does this cap and limit apply to new mothers? If a mom later becomes unemployed outside of this plan, does her benefit count toward the cap? What about existing labor laws? Is the woman laid off during her maternity leave? Is she guaranteed a job when she gets back to work? What about hourly workers? What about women who need a full salary or paycheck to pay their rent?

What about mothers who don't have as much money as you, Ivanka? Oh look, she published a "grown up to do list." LOVE the pink paper.

ivankas_grown_up_to_do_list
Credit: IvankaTrump.com

Those WalMart employees can get their power of attorney issues ironed out right after their manicure. But they won't get any help for childcare from the plan you cooked up to make your daddy look nice.

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