Joe Biden, President of the United States, participates in a CNN Town Hall at Baltimore Center Stage Pearlstone Theater on Thursday, October 21, 2021 in Baltimore. Evan Vucci/AP Photo
Biden responded to Manchin's attempts to limit eligibility for the child credit tax credit on Thursday.
When asked if he supported work requirements, the president replied "no".
Biden proposed a one year extension to the CTC. This was rejected by Democrats as being too short.
At a CNN Town Hall on Thursday night, President Joe Biden stated that he doesn't believe that people need to work in order to get the monthly child credit. This was in response to a key Democrat’s attempt to limit eligibility for the cash benefit.
When asked if he supported a work requirement to boost the child tax credit, the president replied flatly "no".
Biden's comments are retaliating against Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Manchin, a centrist, has a large influence on the future of the economic legislation he passes in the 50-50 Senate. Over the objection of most Congressional Democrats, Manchin has pushed for a work requirement to receive the child tax credit.
They favor that families who pay very little or no taxes can receive up to $300 per month depending on their child's age. The one-year expansion is available to all families with incomes below $150,000. It will expire next year.
According to the Niskanen Center, at least 60% of children who receive the child tax credit have their aid cut if Democrats adopt Manchin's plan.
The Democratic Social Spending Plan includes only the child tax credit. Democrats want at least four weeks' paid leave and federal subsidies to help people purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act exchanges.
Biden proposed a one year extension to the child tax credit in meetings with Democrats at Tuesday's White House. It provoked a backlash by senior Democrats such as Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Massachusetts' House Appropriations Committee chair, and Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon's Senate Finance Committee chairman.
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Wyden said to Insider Tuesday that he was aiming for a longer extension. Others involved in negotiations for the child tax credit argue that a longer extension would be necessary to make it a benefit program that is impossible to remove like Social Security.
Insider was told by Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado's architect of the measure, that "I think we have to try harder."
Business Insider has the original article.
