Senator Domenici's budget comes up short by failing to set aside funding to make child care more accessible and affordable. If we want to expand the tax credit for child care expenses, offer more training opportunities for providers, and provide startup funds for afterschool programs, we must do better. This amendment would have been an important step in the right direction. Johnson said he opposed Senator Domenici's plan to prevent any funds from a possible tobacco settlement legislation to be used for anti-smoking programs and health research. Part of any tobacco settlement package should be the significant expansion of health research and increased funding for programs combating teen smoking.
Tobacco companies target young people with their advertising.
If there is a multi-billion dollar settlement, at least some of that money should be devoted to advertizing against teen smoking. Johnson also cosponsored a motion to declare that Congress should accelerate the schedule for making the health insurance premiums of the self-employed fully deductible. This amendment was passed without opposition.