Robert Rubin: A Plan to Help Kids Without Increasing Inflation

Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times

By Robert E. Rubin and Jacob J. Lew

Robert Rubin, along with fellow former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, makes a compelling case for Congress to take immediate action on child poverty and family support through targeted tax policy reforms. In this opinion piece, Rubin argues that expanding the child tax credit's refundability for low-income families and strengthening child care support are not just moral imperatives but crucial investments in America's economic future.

The article addresses concerns about inflation head-on, with Rubin and Lew explaining that the proposed legislation would actually help reduce inflationary pressures through deficit reduction while simultaneously investing in critical family support programs. They provide concrete evidence of the success of the previous child tax credit expansion, citing research that showed a dramatic reduction in child poverty when the full credit was made available to families with low or no taxable earnings. The piece concludes by emphasizing how these investments in children and families are essential for maintaining America's competitive edge in the global economy.