TRANSFERRING WEALTH TO THE “RIGHT” FOLKS: Sen. Mike Lee’s “pro-family” proposal.

Senator Lee proposes adding “an additional $2500-per child tax credit” applicable to income and payroll taxes in order to address what he calls the “Parent Tax Penalty.” Essentially, he claims that parents are “taxed” unfairly as they bear the “enormous economic costs of raising” their children . . .

One wonders why Lee’s plan is considered pro-family when, at most, it is pro-parenthood. His plan does not distinguish between the married couple with 2.5 kids struggling to pay the mortgage and help with algebra homework and the irresponsible alcoholic who would see it as an incentive to bring children into a dangerous environment.

Indiscriminately paying people who have children may exacerbate many social problems, like fatherlessness, that Sen. Lee’s proposal does not seem equipped to address.