Crapo shouldn’t give up on Child Tax Credit deal. Idaho needs him to help find a way | Opinion

The $78 billion tax package that passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives in January includes an expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) as well as business deductions that encourage research and development. Both of these pieces are critical for the future success of Idaho and America’s economy and for the benefit of families, workers, and their communities. The current bill that sits with Congress is a promising sign of bipartisan legislation. However, some important adjustments are needed to ensure the interests of both parties are addressed.

Without this compromise, the CTC may never reach Idahoans.

Fortunately, Idaho’s own Sen. Mike Crapo is one elected official who understands the importance of perfecting this CTC revamp. Despite the bipartisan sponsorship and support of this bill, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised concerns about various components of the legislation. The critiques range in issue. For example, some Republicans have expressed concern that an increased state and local tax credit (SALT) was not included in the bill.

However, the chief issue that many Republicans have with this package revolves around another concern with the bill: that it could create reverse incentives to work. A statement Sen. Crapo shared on the effort highlights that the version of the CTC included in the bill could undermine the work requirement and shift from tax relief for hardworking Americans to a gift from the government. Republicans are understandably concerned about using taxpayer dollars to fund an extension of the welfare state, and although the bill may not currently assuage all of these concerns, Senate leaders should not give up.

The CTC is too important a benefit for American families to let a rushed process jeopardize the final outcome. Senator John Thune, R-South Dakota, the Senate Minority Whip, argued as much: “We need a process that allows for some amendments to try and tweak and fix some of the issues.”

Rather than abandoning negotiations entirely, both sides of the aisle should engage in honest negotiations to work out these differences and reach a final agreement. This is where we are counting on Sen. Crapo to lead.

An issue with one component of this massive tax package — along with an openness to negotiation — should not be conflated with outright opposition to the bipartisan legislation members have worked tirelessly to advance. Lawmakers like Senator Crapo, who are hesitant to support the bill with its current provisions, should continue to engage in the process.

Senators who want to discuss these potential impacts before signing on to a $78 billion dollar bill should not be criticized. Likewise, continued engagement should not be slammed as giving the other side a political win. Members of both parties would benefit from delivering a concrete win for their states’ families and businesses. Our Idaho senators have a knack for this kind of work and brokering a better deal for Idaho families.

We should encourage lawmakers to continue prioritizing these talks and work through their disagreements together. Legislators like Sen. Crapo want to ensure that intended recipients of this policy — America’s working families — see its benefits. Critics of the tax bill aren’t anti-tax credit, anti-family or even anti-CTC. All they want is to ensure this bill provides working Americans with maximum benefits and with minimal downsides.

It is a rare, amazing thing to see bipartisan collaboration in a bill as large as this one. Senators on either side of the aisle who are examining it with a critical eye deserve praise for ensuring they get it right.

Sen. Abby Lee is a Republican from Fruitland who serves as assistant majority leader. Sen. Ali Rabe is a Democrat from Boise. Rep. Lori McCann is a Republican from Lewiston. Rep. Ned Burns is a Democrat from Bellevue who serves as minority caucus chair.