NOVEMBER 14, 2024
Representative Connolly is delighted to announce his bill authorizing childcare as a campaign expense passed this afternoon as part of the final economic development package. With this move, Massachusetts will join 36 other states and Washington D.C. that have approved Campaign Funds for Childcare.
In 2015, Lee Erica Palmer ran for a seat on the Somerville School Committee. As a single mother and attorney, Palmer noticed that while male politicians could use campaign funds to rent tuxedos for events, she couldn’t use her own campaign funds to cover childcare costs while canvassing or attending fundraisers. After confirming with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance that childcare wasn’t an allowable campaign expense, she brought the issue to the attention of Representative Connolly and Senator Jehlen. In 2017, alongside Representative Meschino, they introduced the first House and Senate bills to make childcare a permissible campaign expense. In 2019, through an amendment to a campaign finance bill, Representatives Connolly and Meschino established a commission to study this concept. The commission’s 2020 report recommended the language for Rep. Connolly's bill which received a favorable committee report in May of this year from the Joint Committee on Election Laws, and which has now been included in the final economic development conference package, soon to be signed into law.
"I am thrilled our bill to allow childcare as a campaign expense has reached the Governor's desk after passing both chambers. By addressing one of the barriers candidates face when running for office, I hope we’ll see a future candidate pool that more accurately reflects the diversity of communities across Massachusetts," said Representative Mike Connolly. "Thank you to Somerville resident Lee Erica Palmer for initially bringing this issue to my attention, to my House and Senate co-filers, Representative Meschino and Senator Jehlen, to everyone involved with the legislative commission report, and to House Leaders and conference committee negotiators for including this provision in the final bill."
“Prospective legislators with children should not have to choose between their families and public service. This bill helps break down the economic barrier of child care and opens new doors to make the path to elected office more accessible,” said Representative Joan Meschino. “Thank you to Speaker Mariano and President Spilka for their support of the bill, as well as Chairs Ryan and Keenan for their extensive research and understanding of this topic. I am excited for the more inclusive election process this bill allows for.”
"This bill would break down a major barrier to open elective office to people who have traditionally not had that opportunity. It is the culmination of 8 years of work on behalf of so many advocates, candidates and legislators. Many of us currently in office would not be here today if we didn't have trusted people taking care of our kids while we knocked doors for our first campaigns," said Senator Pat Jehlen. "Allowing campaign finances to be used for childcare means that more people in our communities can participate than ever before and amplify the voices of those who have previously not been heard. I am excited for this bill to be moving to the Governor's desk."
The cost of childcare is a barrier that holds millions of parents back from running for office, or even contemplating a run for office. It is also a hurdle that severely impacts the representation of parents and caregivers, especially mothers, in office. In fact, according to 2024 data from Vote Mama Foundation, just 4.5 percent of Massachusetts state legislators are mothers with minor children. The adoption of this policy in the final economic development package removes a significant barrier that has historically kept parents and caregivers out of the political arena and comes at no expense to taxpayers or the state. By authorizing the use of campaign funds to pay for childcare expenses directly related to campaign activity, Massachusetts will empower more caregivers to run for office and bring more advocates for American children and families to the decision-making table. According to a recent Vote Mama Foundation report, Campaign Funds for Childcare spending has increased by 662% for federal candidates and 2,156% for state and local candidates since 2018.
Representatives Connolly and Meschino and Senator Jehlen were honored to have the support of the Massachusetts Parents Running for Office (PRO) Coalition co-lead by Vote Mama Foundation and the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW). Other members included the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators (MCWL), the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus (MWPC), the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (MassNOW), and YW Boston. They are also thankful to Representatives Lipper-Garabedian and Hunt for prioritizing this issue with special thanks to House Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, Chair Ryan and Chair Keenan of the Joint Committee on Election Laws, and the Healey administration for their leadership and support.
The Governor received the final package today (stay tuned for a full write-up) and has ten days to review and take action.
