Parson outlines plan to address child care issues during State of the State address

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the lack of affordable child care is costing the state more than $1 billion each year.

Gov. Mike Parson delivered his final State of the State address on Wednesday afternoon. In the speech, he outlined his priorities for the next budget and this legislative session. During that speech, he outlined his plan to address what The Missouri Chamber identified as the biggest issue facing the Missouri workforce: Child care.

The Missouri economy loses $1.35 billion annually from a lack of child care, and the state loses $280 million in tax revenue, according to a recent study conducted by the Missouri Chamber. According to a recent chamber survey, 80% of business leaders think Missouri's child care crisis is negatively affecting businesses' ability to recruit workers and 64% say an incentive package from the state would make it more likely for them to invest in child care.

The governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes $52 million for Missouri's Child Care Subsidy program, to expand the subsidies to the 100th percentile for infants and toddlers and the 65th percentile for preschoolers and school-aged children. Currently, it's only available at the 58th percentile for infants through school-aged children.

The governor invited full-time nursing student and mother Katherine Godier to his address to highlight the need for affordable child care and preschool.

"Katherine only wants the best possible education for Theo. Something I think we can all agree on that should be the minimum for every child in Missouri," Parson said during his address.

Jennifer Sikes is the program director of Godier's day care, which gets help from a state-funded subsidy program -- a program Parson wants to make available for more Missourians.

"She's an excellent student. She just didn't have care or couldn't afford the care," Sikes said. "So one of the things that we did as an early learning academy (is) say we're going to accept subsidy and we're going to work to get these students that they will qualify for subsidy so that we can provide the care, They can go to school, they can graduate and go out and get that job."

This plan got applause from both sides of the aisle, and Parson highlighted a bill from Democratic Sen. Lauren Arthur (Kansas City) and Rep. Brenda Sheilds (R-St. Joseph).

"I believe him calling out specific legislation hopefully (it) will apply some pressure to the the reasonable folks in the room. But we'll see what happens," House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) said.

Bills on this topic were introduced last year, but, as the Missouri Chamber puts it, they were a "casualty of end of session filibusters."