Previous Examples of Big Ideas for Kids
Throughout history, we as a nation have been adept at generating promising proposals and policy solutions to address the needs of our children and families. For example, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal represented a significant shift in both political and domestic policy in the US, and the beginning of the federal welfare state. Similarly, President Johnson signed two critical programs into law that have had significant implications for our children - Medicaid and the Head Start Program.
During the Clinton Administration, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), and SCHIP were just some of the notable achievements. Moreover, in his first year in office, President Bush declared the beginning of a “new era” in American public education by signing the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act into law. Although the law has been subject to criticism since its enactment, the election of a new president created the political will to enact such a dramatic change.
While not every “big idea” has been signed into law during the first year of a new presidential term, history has indicated that frequently it is the year when enactment of such polices is most likely. Often, a changed Washington creates productive collaborations between the legislative and executive branches, as both are looking to make good on campaign promises before the emergence of the partisanship and political posturing that is synonymous with mid-term elections. Indeed, Medicaid, Head Start, SCHIP, EITC, CTC, and NCLB are just some of the examples of initiatives that were passed in an effort to improve the lives of children. It is clear that we are now approaching a golden opportunity to do right by American kids.
