Nebraska needs lasting answers to our state's child care crisis
Child care that is high quality and affordable is vital to Nebraska's economy. (Stock photo by)
Nebraska's lawmakers are hard at work in the state Legislature, debating how best to make Nebraska a great place to live, raise a family and do business.
One solution that could accomplish all those goals: finding lasting answers to our state's child care crisis. Widespread access to affordable, quality child care would allow Nebraska's economy to thrive, letting parents work and businesses grow, while nurturing children's healthy development.
That's why We Care for Kids hosted an educational event for policymakers last month, bringing together Nebraska state senators and staff for a conversation about the child care crisis. The event featured early childhood experts who shared research on child care gaps throughout the state and voter opinions on the crisis.
The takeaways: Nebraska needs more quality child care options, and voters want the state to help solve the crisis.
Currently, the gap between the potential need for child care and the actual capacity in the state is more than 17,000 spaces. Nebraskans realize that child care is an essential piece of our economic infrastructure. However, running a child care program is not currently a sustainable business model.
As an early childhood educator, I know this pain first-hand. And as a member of the We Care for Kids advisory group, I know I'm not alone. Child care is a labor-intensive industry, with labor costs making up 70-80% of a typical program's operating costs.
Teachers currently earn an average of $14 per hour – not enough to meet basic housing, food, health care, and other needs. Those average hourly wages will go up due to Nebraska's voter-mandated minimum wage increase, but many talented child care teachers are still choosing to leave the profession for jobs at Costco, Walmart and Hobby Lobby due to higher wages and perks.
The problem is that child care providers cannot charge families more. Child care already costs more than the average yearly cost of college tuition for most families.
As a result, child care programs struggle to stay open. Employers lose workers when parents must leave the workforce or turn down job opportunities due to a lack of access to child care in their communities. It's a loss for families, a loss for educators, a loss for businesses, and a loss for Nebraska.
The solution will have to come from many directions, including state policymakers.
In a survey conducted by We Care for Kids and Nebraska Extension last year, results show Nebraska voters want the Legislature to address the child care crisis with significant, long-term state investment. The survey found 84% of Nebraskans want the state to support child care and early learning like it does K-12 schools and higher education. This includes majorities across geography, gender, age and political party.
An earlier poll from the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources had similar findings, with the majority of those polled strongly agreeing that public resources should be invested to support the availability of child care in our communities.
For three years now, We Care for Kids has brought together more than 140 state and community organizations, businesses and municipalities to raise awareness about the importance of quality child care in our state. Nebraskans understand the importance. Now we want answers.
We know the future for all Nebraskans is closely tied with our ability to provide affordable, quality child care so that everyone can choose to participate in the economy.
Part of the solution will need to come from our representatives in the Legislature, part from community members and partnership efforts like We Care for Kids and part from Nebraska voters insisting this is a critical issue for our state. It will take all of us to help support the child care industry to make it a sustainable resource for Nebraska families and businesses.
Denita Julius owns Little Sprouts Child Care in Chadron. Denita also serves on the campaign advisory group for We Care for Kids/Por todos los niños.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
2 hours ago
Nevada GOP governor vetoes voter ID bill that he pushed for in a deal with Democrats
LAS VEGAS -- Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo unexpectedly vetoed a bill on Thursday that would have required voters in the swing state to show a photo ID at the polls — a conservative priority across the country and something that has long been on the governor's legislative wish list. The move brings a dramatic end to one of the legislative session's most surprising outcomes: A bipartisan deal that combined the requirement for voter identification with a Democratic-backed measure to add more drop boxes for mail ballots that Lombardo had initially vetoed. The bill came together in the final days of the session and passed mere minutes before the Democratic-controlled Legislature adjourned just after midnight on June 3. Lombardo had been expected to sign it. In his veto message, Lombardo said he 'wholeheartedly' supports voter ID laws but that he felt the bill fell short on addressing his concerns about ballots cast by mail, because such ballots could still be accepted 'solely on the basis of a signature match" under the bill. Because it 'would apply voter ID requirements unequally between in-person and mail ballot voters and fails to sufficiently guarantee ballot security, I cannot support it,' he said. The voter ID requirements in the bill mirrored a ballot initiative known as Question 7 that Nevada voters overwhelmingly approved last November. But voters would have to pass it again in 2026 to amend the state constitution. The requirement would then be in place by 2028. Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, the Democrat who brokered the deal with Lombardo, said when he introduced the legislation that voters seemed poised to give the final approval, and that enacting a voter ID law would have given the state a head start on ensuring a smooth rollout before the next presidential election. In a scathing statement, Yeager called the governor's decision a 'breach of trust," saying that he believes Lombardo gave in to pressure around him to veto the bill, designated Assembly Bill 499. 'Lombardo was for AB499 before he was against it, encouraging all legislative Republicans to support it, which they did,' Yeager said. Voting rights groups condemned the legislation, saying it would have made it harder for some people to vote, including low-income or unhoused voters, people with disabilities and older voters. Let Nevadans Vote, which describes itself as a nonpartisan coalition, said Thursday in a statement that the governor's veto only temporarily stops what it called 'the misguided and ill-conceived implementation of voter ID in Nevada.' 'Come 2026, Question 7 will still be on the ballot," the group said while describing voter ID requirements as 'strict regimes' that 'decide who gets to exercise their constitutional right to vote and who cannot.' Polls have shown that most Americans support voter ID laws, and that has been consistent over the years and across party lines. A 2024 Gallup poll found 84% of Americans were in favor of requirements for a photo ID at voting places, consistent with Gallup findings from 2022 and 2016. That includes about two-thirds of Democrats, according to the 2024 survey. Voters are either required or requested to show ID when voting in person in 36 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Not all states require photo ID, though. Some accept documents such as a bank statement, and some allow voters without ID to vote after signing an affidavit. A few states allow poll workers to vouch for voters without an ID. Lombardo on Thursday also vetoed a bill that would have allowed the swing state's nonpartisan voters to cast ballots in Republican or Democratic primary races. The bill sought to include the more than 855,000 voters registered as nonpartisans — the state's largest voting bloc — in the process of nominating major-party candidates for congressional races and statewide offices. A ballot initiative to open up primaries for all registered voters was rejected by voters last November. The sweeping measure, which also attempted to implement ranked choice voting, faced intense opposition from party leaders on both sides who said it was too broad and confusing.
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Program that kept 200 people off the streets headed for the scrap heap
And while an 'We're really scrambling here,' said Ken Bates, CEO of Open Sky, a community services organization serving Central Massachusetts. 'We have a governor who has talked extensively about supporting people in reentry and getting people housed. And we've found a model for doing just that. We can't understand why she isn't funding this.' Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up But Governor Maura Healey isn't alone in turning her back on the program. She was aided and abetted by the Legislature. Advertisement Community Compass at Open Sky began as a pilot program. But isn't the point of pilot programs to find out what works and then replicate it — not consign it to oblivion? It was allowed to draw not just from men and women recently released from state or county correctional facilities but also anyone who had ever been incarcerated — a population that, Bates said, numbers well into the thousands in Worcester County. Advertisement Its totally voluntary nature and the wrap-around services it offered — nutrition (including a food pantry), employment assistance, education, and health care referrals (including mental health and substance use treatment) — attracted more than 1,400 people to its door, who logged more than 14,000 visits during that less than two-year span. It drew its staff from those with 'learned experience,' including the formerly incarcerated who are all too familiar with what it takes to find housing when your last residence had 'MCI' as part of its address or find a job without a proper shirt or jacket in your closet. The program was not without friends in the Legislature, like Senator Jamie Eldridge of Acton and Representative Mary Keefe of Worcester, who were both unsuccessful in their attempts to win an amendment to the state budget for the $1.5 million it would take to keep the center open for another year. Now keep in mind the Massachusetts Senate added 540 local earmarks to its budget during debate this year, according to the But the formerly incarcerated don't have much of a lobby on Beacon Hill. And this year the governor's budget allocated This is going to be a tough budgetary year all around — with Washington providing the great unknown and unknowable at the moment. But when it comes to the 'frills' that lawmakers like to pass out to local causes like so many bonbons (what, Advertisement Lost in that shuffle are worthy programs like Community Compass at Open Sky, which deserves a second lease on life from the governor who once supported it and lawmakers who have managed to find money for far less critical causes. Rachelle G. Cohen is a Globe opinion writer. She can be reached at
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cuomo and Mamdani trade fire in the final New York City mayoral debate
NEW YORK — New York's former governor, who carries heavy baggage, and his surprise top rival — a 33-year-old democratic socialist with few accomplishments — faced a flood of attacks during the second and final New York City mayoral debate Thursday night, a faceoff that captured the tumultuous end of what had been a stagnant campaign. Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani traded barbs and faced attacks from lower-polling opponents during the two-hour debate, as one rival — city Comptroller Brad Lander — made a final push to break into what polls show is a two-person race. Lander delivered withering criticisms of Cuomo over the scandals that drove him out of office four years ago — his handling of nursing home policy during Covid and sexual harassment allegations from female staffers. 'Everyone here knows you sexually harassed women, that you created a toxic work environment,' Lander said as a stone-faced Cuomo stood next to him. 'Those are just bold-faced lies,' the former governor shot back. It was one of several pitched exchanges as five candidates aimed to improve their standings and the two frontrunners desperately sought to weaken the other just two days before early voting begins in the June 24 Democratic primary. Surging in recent polls but generally still in second place, Mamdani was subject to the frontrunner treatment as his opponents knocked his paltry record in the state Legislature, far-left views and criticism of Israel. 'Experience matters and I think inexperience is dangerous in this case,' Cuomo said. 'Mr. Mamdani has a staff of five people. You're now going to run a staff of 300,000 employees.' Mamdani, in turn, sought to portray the 67-year-old Cuomo as part of a political establishment many voters have grown tired of. 'I've never had to resign in disgrace,' Mamdani said, referring to Cuomo's 2021 resignation from the scandals encapsulated in state attorney general reports. He denies all wrongdoing. 'I've never cut Medicaid. I've never stolen money from the MTA. I've never hounded the 13 women who credibly accused me of sexual harassment.' Cuomo, Mamdani, Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and businessperson Whitney Tillson — squared off in the debate, sponsored by NY1, WNYC and THE CITY. In a shift from last week's debate, some of the candidates opted not to aim their fire at Cuomo when given the chance to ask another candidate a question of their choosing. The differences between the leading men could hardly be more stark. Cuomo would be the oldest mayor elected in modern history and is running on his lengthy record; Mamdani is hoping to bypass concerns about his inexperience by inspiring Democrats looking for a change from the status quo. Cuomo has pledged to tackle subway crime and bring his aggressive leadership brand — which critics call bullying — to City Hall. Mamdani wants to fund free bus services and create government-run grocery stores by increasing taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. His priorities will need approval from state officials in Albany, and Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has already said she opposes tax hikes. Similar to the first debate, Cuomo was often on the defensive, particularly as he traded heated exchanges with Lander. Lander, who has struggled in the race, had one of his best days yet Thursday: After getting the backing of a panel convened by the New York Times in lieu of a traditional newspaper endorsement, he found his footing on the debate stage. He trained his attacks on Cuomo again and again, including on the former governor's management of the MTA and COVID. An investigation by state Attorney General Letitia James' office determined Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women; the then-governor resigned weeks after a report detailed the findings of the probe. Cuomo — who initially apologized to some of the women — has since insisted he's done nothing wrong and said Thursday night the findings were 'all political.' The city comptroller even laid a trap of sorts. He directed Cuomo's attention to the audience where Peter Arbeeny, whose father was one of thousands of nursing home deaths during the pandemic, was waiting. Arbeeny blames Cuomo for directing nursing homes to admit COVID patients. 'Andrew, this is Peter Arbeeny,' Lander said. 'Will you finally apologize to Peter and other grieving New Yorkers? Or will you just keep gaslighting them?' Cuomo responded he was 'very sorry' that Arbeeny's father died, but insisted the state was following federal guidelines when his administration required nursing homes to receive Covid-positive patients. The ex-governor is making his comeback bid by leaning heavily on his record — including his televised Covid briefings that turned him into a national star. But he is now reportedly under investigation for lying to Congress after he initially told a House subcommittee that he did not review or edit a state Department of Health report on nursing home deaths. He said in subsequent testimony he did not 'recall' seeing it. In last week's debate, Cuomo declined to say if he edited or saw the report before its release. In an interview with PIX 11 this week, he acknowledged he reviewed it and if he had read it, he likely made edits. He's denied lying to Congress. Lander and the others used sledgehammers to go after the former governor's record — and the sexual harassment allegations that pushed him from office — and scalpels to spotlight other missteps, including his mispronunciation of Mamdani's name. While Cuomo was expected to attack Mamdani's resume, surprising pokes came from Lander — who not-so-subtly suggested Mamdani's social media savvy would not translate into managing a government of roughly 330,000 people. Adams, a reserved legislative leader, questioned the state assemblymember's qualifications. Adams, who ran through a list of her governmental accomplishments and would be the first Black woman to lead City Hall, let a hammer drop: 'In a recent New York Times article, you said you were the most qualified person to lead the city. Given what I've laid out, do you think you're more qualified than me to lead the city?' Mamdani responded — sheepishly — that all the candidates likely believe they're the most qualified. 'The objective is to beat Andrew Cuomo. Let's keep that clear. He is not fit to be mayor,' Adams told reporters after the debate. 'My question to the assemblymember was basically just to get my experience out there on the table so everybody can hear it.' Just as telling: the attacks that didn't happen. At one point in the two-hour ordeal, Adams jabbed Cuomo for his description of New York as a city so dangerous residents are scared to leave their houses at night. 'I don't know how long you've been out of it, Mr. Cuomo, but it's been a while,' she said. 'So I just want to make sure that we are clear here tonight, old slogans and scare tactics aren't going to make anybody in New York City safer, okay?' The former governor — whose coalition is highly dependent on leading with the same Black voters Adams represents in the Council — notably did not offer a rejoinder. Cuomo was hit with fresh criticism, meanwhile, when he referred to 'illegal immigrants' when sparring with Lander over contracted workers cleaning the city subways. Tilson, a little-known hedge fund executive, repeatedly knocked Mamdani's criticism of Israel — a touchstone issue for a city with the world's second-largest Jewish population. 'He has a double standard, because if you search his Twitter feed — 15,000 tweets — Sudan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia don't appear,' Tilson said. 'Yet the word 'Israel' appears more 50 times, the word 'genocide' appears more than 26 times, so that tells you where his heart is.' Mamdani called the criticism 'a smear' and said attacks on him are part of a 'dehumanization' in the city. Since last week's forum, Cuomo has won politically disparate endorsements from people he has feuded with — centrist former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and primary foe Jessica Ramos, an acerbic left-flank critic. Ramos did not qualify for Thursday's debate. But two recent polls show Mamdani — who has the recent endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — gaining ground. Hundreds of supporters of the campaigns lined the street outside John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan to cheer the candidates as they entered the building. Mamdani's crowd included a brass band, dubbed Horns for Zohran. When Cuomo arrived in his black Dodge Charger muscle car, union workers cheered as Mamdani's musicians played 'The Imperial March' from Star Wars — Darth Vader's theme. The clash of candidates earned attention online, including from former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who gleefully live-tweeted along with the attacks on his political foe Cuomo. 'Wow, @andrewcuomo is REALLY scared of @ZohranKMamdani! He's not even faking it…' de Blasio wrote. 'And Andrew is REALLY disrespecting all the New Yorkers who support Zohran.' Top Cuomo adviser Melissa DeRosa said his debate commentary was 'a sad fall from grace for the former mayor.' She listened to the other candidates speak with reporters in the spin room after the debate. Cuomo was the only candidate who declined to appear. Asked after the debate if he would accept an endorsement from de Blasio, Mamdani answered in the affirmative, labeling de Blasio ' the architect of universal pre-K, which is one of the most effective examples of what city government can do to alleviate an affordability crisis.' Emily Ngo, Joe Anuta and Michael Gartland contributed to this report.
