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Law works for committed parents

To the Editor:

I was extremely disappointed to read Lori Ehde's column about my At Home Child Care Program in the Thursday, Sept. 7, Star Herald issue. Not only was her research sketchy, but she chose to write about a topic that she apparently does not understand. I'm not sure which is more unfortunate.

I created the At Home Child Care Program, which pays mothers to stay at home with their newborn babies for the first year of the child's life, for one key purpose: to provide families with a better environment in which babies' brains can develop during that crucial first year. Allowing a parent to nurture and monitor that progress can make a substantial impact on the rest of that child's life. Thirty-two years as a family physician have given me ample proof of that.

If Lori Ehde's column is based on her dislike for my personal political stance as a Republican I would like to point out to her that this legislation received overwhelming support from Democrats as well, However, we passed this bill while Democrats were the majority in the House, which is why I was unable to pass a bill setting the limits at a $5,000-per-year reimbursement for the first three years of a child's life as I had originally intended.

But no one can rightfully claim that people aren't taking advantage of this first-of-its-kind program because they won't be guaranteed a job after taking a year off. Unemployment is virtually nonexistent in my legislative district; those parents who are committed to devoting a year of their time to their newborn child's life should have no trouble returning to the workforce.

Yes, my program won an award for being innovative. But every innovative idea requires some tinkering, and my program is no different. How anyone could say that providing parents with the means to better care for their newborn children is an impractical idea is completely beyond me.

Rep. Richard D. Mulder
State Representative

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