Background on Families & Children

Child Deductions & Tax Credits

The 1997 Tax Relief Act established a per-child tax credit of $400 for 1998, increasing to $500 for 1999.

In addition, the tax code allows for a deduction of $2,650 per dependent child.

Candidates focus on the social effects of those tax policies as well as deductions for day-care, pre-school, after-school, and others.

Some candidates instead focus on how corporations can support families via Family Leave, Flex-Time, and so on. Internet Smut, V-Chip & TV Ratings

Internet filters are intended to prohibit children from seeing Internet-based pornography, based on parameters that parents can set up.

The ‘V-Chip’ and other ‘choice chips’ allow similar parental oversight of television programs.

Television programs, music CDs, video games, and other forms of entertainment may soon carry ratings similar to those in cinemas today (which are voluntarily established by the movie industry). Deadbeat Dads & Child Support

On one side, enforcing child support payments improves children’s economic circumstances.

On the other side, ‘fatherhood rights’ is beginning to achieve courtroom victories against anti-male bias.

Related Info:

Candidate questionnaire

Related issues:

Education
School Choice
Juvenile Crime

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