Give some credit
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Editor,
Among the many Republican talking points on offer is the notion that Democrats have not accomplished anything important since Joe Biden became president - and certainly nothing that benefits Montanans.
Let us take a look at that. Are we better off than we were in 2020? In fact, we are SO much better off that the information cannot be put into one letter to the editor - but let’s start with jobs and children.
When Biden entered office, unemployment was 6.8 percent, the economy was shrinking, and job growth was weak. The American Rescue Plan averted a financial crisis through emergency stimulus checks, rent relief, help for small businesses, and other support. It funded the reopening of schools and provided assistance to state and local governments. Montana also used American Rescue Funds to incentivize returning to work, and now has the seventh lowest unemployment rate at 3.5%
One of the most effective and popular provisions was a monthly tax credit for families with children. Nationally, this helped 61 million children. Child hunger was cut by 25%. In Montana, more than 100,000 families have received these payments (which unfortunately expired in December).
Christina Stoddard, economist at Montana State University, has given these figures meaning: “Kids whose families have more support when they’re young… we see those kids earn significantly more as adults. And so they’re better off, and their family’s future is better off so it’s this kind of multi-generational benefit… Children whose parents are receiving these kinds of programs benefit. Those babies are born healthier, the children in those families have fewer health conditions.”
Let us give credit to an administration that hit the ground running, and got a lot of important work done, despite widespread resistance. All of us benefit, because we are all in this together.
Gail Trenfield
St. Ignatius
