WHAT GEORGIANS ARE SEEING: Biden and Democrats Deliver Historic Tax Cut for Working Families

Starting today, Georgia families will be receiving monthly tax cuts of up to $300 per child as part of the American Rescue Plan. Thanks to President Biden and Democrats – and no thanks to Republicans in Congress, who unanimously opposed this relief plan – this tax cut will provide additional relief of up to $1,600 per child to the families of 2,274,000 children in Georgia, helping lift 171,000 children out of poverty.

On Wednesday, the Democratic Party of Georgia hosted a virtual press conference with Chair Congresswoman Nikema Williams and working moms from across the state to highlight the monthly tax cuts. Speakers highlighted how President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats delivered this historic tax cut for working families in Georgia – while Brian Kemp, Georgia Republicans, and the entire GOP Senate field opposed this critical boost to the middle class.

Here’s what Georgians saw this week:

Georgia Recorder: Democrats take credit this week as federal child tax stipends set to arrive

• The vast majority of Georgia parents can expect a little extra in their bank account starting Thursday as the federal government begins rolling out monthly payments of up to $300 per child as part of the pandemic stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden in March.
• In what may be a preview of a line of attack from Democrats ahead of next year’s elections, Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams came out swinging at Republicans at a virtual press conference Wednesday touting the financial benefits.
• The $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package expanding child tax credits passed the U.S. Senate 50-49, with no Republican support.
• “I want to emphasize, again, that none of this would have been possible without the votes of Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock,” Williams said. “If Herschel Walker, Kelly Loeffler or any of the other people that they have on the GOP Senate candidate side challenging Sen. Warnock had their way, y’all, Georgia families wouldn’t be receiving these life-changing tax cuts. The child poverty rate in America wouldn’t be getting cut in half. That’s why we need to keep Raphael Warnock in the U.S. Senate next year, maintain Democratic majorities in the US House and Senate and elect new Democratic leadership for Georgia.”

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Tax payments got to families today, Democrats want the credit

• Starting today, just about every Georgia family with children will start receiving new monthly payments directly from the federal government. This money, which is technically an increase of the child tax credit, was part of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill approved in March as the first significant piece of legislation under President Joe Biden. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock’s office says that 1.2 million Georgia families are eligible for the new dollars.
• The message from Democrats like Warnock is that the money could be life-changing for low-income families. Parents will get $300 a month for any child aged 5 or under and $250 for kids age 6 to 17. This IRS announced last night that $15 billion had already been distributed nationwide.
• But there is another message Democrats want you to remember: it was them and them alone who did this. Remember, the coronavirus bill, called the American Rescue Plan, passed without a single GOP vote. Warnock and Sen. Jon Ossoff’s victories in the January runoff were seen as a direct factor in giving Democrats enough political might to push it through.
• Now, nearly nine out of 10 families — even those represented by lawmakers who voted against the package — will benefit.
• U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, who pulls double-duty as chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, made it plain in a press release: “Thanks to President Biden and Democrats, 91% of Georgia families with children will begin receiving a monthly tax cut to help cover expenses like child care, prepare kids headed back to school, and support parents returning to work – especially mothers,” she said. “This major tax relief for working families is poised to cut child poverty in half across the country – no thanks to Brian Kemp, Georgia Republicans, or the entire GOP Senate field, all of whom opposed this critical lifeline for Georgians.”

WSAV (Savannah): Expanded child tax credit payments begin Thursday, Georgia lawmaker says it’s due to Democrats

• “Across the country, this will benefit the families of 66 million children and lift 11 million people out of poverty,” says Georgia Rep. Nikema Williams, who is the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “This will have a real positive impact on working families,” said Williams. “It can mean not having to choose between rent or child care, or not having to choose between gas and groceries.”
• Shantrice Jones, a single parent with a 6-year-old child appeared on a Zoom press conference Wednesday with Williams. “This pandemic really brought to light for me how broken our system is and how little support there is for working families,” said Jones. “Personally, I looking forward to the relief and I know many families are as well.”
• Another single mom, Courtney Driver, a former Marine, talked about the challenges of working during the pandemic but now trying to figure out what to do about child care. “For a lot of us, child care is a necessity and it’s expensive,” said Driver. “A lot of child care facilities had to increase costs to keep up with COVID compliance.” Driver said the monthly tax credit checks will “put food on so many tables across America and it will help families.”
• Rep. Williams said there are estimates that the expanded tax credit can benefit 2.2 million Georgia families and 171,000 children. “That’s 171,000 Georgia children who no longer have to wonder whether there will be good on the table when they get home, or if their lights will stay on,” said Williams. “This is good policy, plain and simple, and we have President Biden and Democrats in Congress to thank for it.”
• Williams made a point to say that new Democratic Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were instrumental votes in getting the expanded tax credit passed. She also called out Georgia’s Republican representatives who did not vote for the measure.

Atlanta Voice: Senators Ossoff and Warnock celebrate as Child Tax Credits head to parents’ bank accounts

• “Senator Reverend Warnock and I worked together to pass this tax relief for Georgia families, and we’re proud that we’ve delivered,” said Sen. Ossoff. “Georgians with questions about how to access this tax cut should contact my office. I am here to serve.”
• “Today is a big day for countless families across our state and throughout our nation. This tax cut for our working families will be a game changer, lifting over 160,000 children in Georgia out of poverty,” said Sen. Rev. Warnock. “I am proud to have helped secure this win for Georgia families alongside Sen. Ossoff, and I will continue working to make this tax cut permanent to help ensure future generations of Georgians thrive.”
• President Joe Biden has said the tax credits will combat child poverty, cutting such instances in half.
• “The president felt it was important to elevate this issue, to make sure people understand this is a benefit that will help them as we still work to recover from the pandemic and the economic downturn,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.

13WMAZ (Macon): Child tax credit payments begin hitting bank accounts on Thursday

• The subject of child tax credit payments is a topic that sparked a lot of conversation. Now that those payments are set to go out on Thursday, some families welcome the extra cash. For veteran and working mom Courtney Driver, that means help with childcare.
• “I believe the child tax credit will help families including mine greatly to offset the cost of childcare,” she said.
• Driver is a Marine Corps veteran and says she’s been working as a paralegal throughout the pandemic while taking care of her 5-year-old daughter Jaya, but she said it hasn’t been easy.
• “I have to be honest that even in remaining employed in this pandemic, I have struggled to stay afloat both financially and mentally,” she said.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: ‘Help is here.’ Democrats tout start of child tax credit payments in Georgia

• Democrats are launching a barrage of ads in Georgia and other battleground states to highlight the monthly payments for most American families with children that will land in bank accounts starting Thursday.
• The ads, financed by a slate of national Democratic groups, promote the expanded child tax credit that will deliver monthly payments of up to $300 for each dependent child. It’s part of the $1.9 trillion stimulus measure that Democrats passed in March over unified Republican opposition.
• The payments are projected to cut the child poverty rate in half… Anti-poverty groups say the program will do more to close racial equity gaps than any single policy in decades.

41NBC (Macon): Child tax credits coming to bank accounts July 15

• Warner Robins resident Courtney Driver, a former marine turned paralegal, is a single mom to her 5 year-old-daughter Jaya. Driver says the monthly credits will help her pay for Jaya’s childcare and other expenses.
• “For me groceries, making sure our bills are paid on time,” Driver said. “Back to school, we’re going back to school in August so making sure she’s prepared to go back to school, and preparing for the holidays.”
• Congresswoman Nikema Williams, chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, says the credits will provide direct relief to working families. “To recover from the pandemic, this tax cut will help working parents get back on their feet,” Congresswoman Williams said. “This tax cut means parents don’t have to stay up late at night worrying about how they’re going to shoulder this cost associated with the pandemic.”
• Driver says the credits are beneficial for working moms like her. She says she was discouraged that Congressman Austin Scott, who represents her district, didn’t support American Rescue Plan as drafted. She feels the issue is not something that should be up for debate because of the amount of families in financial need due to the pandemic.
• “We know families are in need of help, they’re in need of jobs, they’re in need of financial relief,” Driver said. “And so I’m glad this plan is here to help families that are in need of financial relief.”

WSB (Atlanta): Millions of Georgians to see child tax credits hit bank accounts as soon as today

• Millions of Georgia families could see extra cash in their bank accounts as soon as Thursday as the federal child tax credit takes effect.
• Channel 2’s Richard Elliot met Elizabeth Wagner and her two children, McAllister and McKinley, in a shopping center parking lot in Tucker.“It’s going to be very helpful to have that extra money to help us out monthly with the extremely expensive child care,” Wagner said.
• Georgia Democratic Party chair and Rep. Nikema Williams said the child tax credit will help families coming out of the pandemic.“In Georgia, millions will feel that impact. Tax cuts of $1,600 per child will benefit the families of 2.2 million kids here in Georgia,” Williams said.
   

The Brunswick News: Child Tax Credit payments begin Thursday

• The expanded Child Tax Credit is part of the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan. Julie Jordan, chairwoman of the Glynn County Democratic Party, said the credit will help families in a number of ways.
• “Quality and affordable childcare is hard to find in Glynn County and is one of the biggest expenses for families in our community,” Jordan said. “As Child Care Tax Credits from the American Rescue Plan begin hitting bank accounts on July 15th, badly needed support will help get a lot of local children out of poverty while also supporting women trying to get back into the work force.
• “Republicans want to say it is not needed, but thoughts like that just show how out of touch they are with working families in our community.”
• “Georgia voters voted for a bold response to this pandemic, and strengthening crucial federal investments for families helps us get as much direct relief to as many Georgians as possible — to buy food and diapers, pay for child care, purchase critical prescriptions and so much more,” Warnock said in March. “By increasing Georgians’ purchasing power through expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, we can put necessary resources right in people’s pockets that will also help stimulate local economies and the state economy as a whole.
• “These federal investments are the economically and morally sound options Congress can take to help hardworking Georgians weather the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

WALB (Albany): Child Tax Credits Start Today

• Millions of families could see extra cash in their bank accounts today as the federal Child Tax Credits take effect.
• U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock recently gave a passionate speech on the Senate floor about the benefits of that child tax credit program. “By increasing the Child Tax Credit, thousands more dollars a year will flow into the pockets of the children and families who need it most, cutting child poverty nationwide in half. In Georgia, more than one million families with children will benefit from the increased tax refund, and it will lift more than 171,000 Georgia children out of poverty.”

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