In a CNN town hall held at New England College on Thursday, January 18, 2024, Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley shared her perspective on child tax credits, expressing her support for a universal approach while raising concerns about potential negative impacts.
Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor, Haley responded to CNN moderator Jake Tapper’s inquiry about her political group, Stand For America, characterizing a previous version of the child tax credit as “no-strings-attached welfare handouts.”
The child tax credit, expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, currently provides eligible families with up to $3,600 per child under age 6 and $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17. This credit, distributed monthly, aims to reduce child poverty significantly, as reported by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Tapper referenced a recent poll indicating that 85% of Americans support the policy and questioned Haley about her stance on expanding child tax credits to assist more low-income families.
“I’m for child care tax credits for everyone. If you’re going to do it, do it across the board and make sure that it’s fair,” responded Haley, emphasizing the need for equitable implementation.
Reflecting on her tenure as governor, Haley outlined her approach to welfare systems, highlighting efforts to transition individuals from welfare to the workforce. “We moved 35,000 people from welfare to work. We had family parties so that we could celebrate the fact that they were now contributing members of society,” she stated.
Haley argued against the current structure of the child tax credit, expressing concerns about its potential to discourage work and foster dependency. “Don’t just give handouts. What are you doing to lift them up to? And if you’re going to do tax credits, do it for everybody. Don’t play favorites. Don’t pick winners and losers,” she asserted. “That’s not what we do in America.”
Notably, Haley’s position on the child tax credit diverges from some potential rivals in the 2024 Republican primary, including Senators Marco Rubio and Mike Lee, who view the policy as a means to support families and reduce poverty.
While Haley has yet to officially announce her candidacy, her stance positions her as a prominent figure and frontrunner for the GOP nomination in the upcoming election.
