Yesterday Idaho 1st District Congressman Bill Sali voted against a resolution supporting better wages for child care providers. The resolution had ten co-sponsors including Republican Todd Platts of Pennsylvania.
H CON RES 112 Supporting the goals and ideas of a National Child Care Worthy Wage Day — States that the Congress supports the goals and ideas of National Child Care Worthy Wage Day, and urges public officials and the general public to honor early childhood care and education staff and programs in their communities and to work together to resolve the early childhood care and education staff compensation crisis.
Votes Database
Congressman Sali — No
Congressman Simpson — Yes
Republican Position — Yes
Democratic Position — Yes
Result — Passed 345-73
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York was the resolution sponsor and says this in a release on her website:
[T]he inadequate level of wages for child care staff, on average $18,000 a year, has led to difficulties in attracting and retaining high quality early childhood care takers and educators.
In addition to low wages, less than one third of child care workers have health insurance and even fewer have pension benefits. As a result, the turnover rate for childcare providers is 30% a year. This high turnover rate interrupts consistent and stable relationships that children need to have with their caregivers.
No information regarding the resolution is available on Congressman Sali's website.

Holy cow - he doesn't even support decent wages for caretakers in principle. That's really screwed up.
Posted by: Sara | May 03, 2007 at 11:09 AM
My guess is he's of the same opinion that some Idaho legislators held this last session that mothers should be taking care of the kids.
It could also be something similar to why he was opposed to the minimum wage increase, that market forces should dictate the wage. They're both just guesses but either way it's an unrealistic viewpoint.
Posted by: MountainGoat | May 03, 2007 at 03:35 PM