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| South Dakota Democratic Lawmakers Respond to Childcare Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2023 Democratic Representatives Peri Pourier (District 27) and Erin Healy (District 10) released the following statements about the ongoing childcare crisis in South Dakota as well as Governor Kristi Noem’s comments saying “I don’t believe it’s the role of the government to assume all financial responsibility for raising these children”. Rep. Peri Pourier: “South Dakotans do not expect the government to raise their children for them nor are they asking for that either. But they do expect the government to create conditions where we all may thrive in our home state, regardless of economic status. The childcare issue has been elevated from numerous parts of the state, so that we can all come together for meaningful solutions that works for every citizen of South Dakota, not just a select few.” Rep. Erin Healy: “As a new parent myself, I worry every day about the rising childcare concerns we see in South Dakota. “The fact that families are paying college tuition rates for childcare proves South Dakota has a problem with affordability. Unfortunately, many South Dakotans are currently faced with the hard decision of whether to work or stay home. If our state is going to continue to advertise that we are a thriving economy that’s open for business, we must ensure that working parents and guardians have a safe, reliable place to send their children. “Families aren’t the only ones struggling—many childcare providers across our state are constantly worried about closures due to rising costs and a workforce shortage. “The only way out of this is our state government stepping in to help. Without help from our state, this problem will continue to spiral out of control. There will be serious consequences for our state if we don’t intervene soon.” For questions, you may contact Dan at dan@sddp.org or contact the state party office by phone at 605-271-5405 or 605-940-3071. Paid for by the South Dakota Democratic Party | www.sddp.org |