Thousands of Illinois families who lost access to state-subsidized child care this summer are once again eligible.
Governor Bruce Rauner rolled back the program drastically in July, which helps low-income working parents afford daycare. Lawmakers were set to reverse the cuts last week, but Rauner agreed to a deal instead.
Senator Toi Hutchinson helped to negotiate with the governor.
"One of the most important investments we can make, in any of this, no matter where we are on a budgetary fight, is that encouraging people to work or go to school is a good thing for the economy," Hutchinson said. "And it costs us way more in the long run if we don't invest in that."
The deal cuts off previously enrolled parents with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s far from Rauner's prior move that limited eligibility to half of the poverty level, which is nearly $16,000 for a family of two.
The new standard means a single mother can make about $2,150 per month.
The federal poverty level for a family of four is about $24,000.
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