Statewide Closures Loom As Sheehan Champions Bill To Rescue WI Child Care Industry
Representative Joe Sheehan is standing firmly with Wisconsin Democrats in supporting a new bill that aims to allocate $480 million to the Child Care Counts program—an initiative Governor Tony Evers introduced as part of his 2025–27 biennial budget.
This proposal comes in response to growing concerns about the collapse of Wisconsin’s child care system following the removal of this funding by Republican lawmakers from the state budget earlier this month. If not reinstated, the program could come to a complete halt by July 2025.
Child Care Providers Are Shutting Down
Since 2007, over half of the state’s child care providers have shut their doors, according to Sheehan. The dramatic decline in available providers has left families struggling to find reliable and affordable care, forcing many parents to leave the workforce or scale back their hours.
The Child Care Counts program, which was initially funded through federal pandemic relief, was created to stabilize the sector during the COVID-19 crisis. It offered essential financial support to licensed child care providers, helping them stay open, pay staff, and maintain services despite rising operational costs.
Now, with federal relief dollars drying up, the program faces extinction unless state lawmakers step in.
“We can’t afford to lose more child care providers,” Sheehan said in a public statement. “Our workforce and economy depend on these services. Without them, parents can’t work, and businesses can’t operate.
Democratic Lawmakers Reintroduce the Program
The new bill introduced by Democratic lawmakers mirrors the original purpose of Child Care Counts: to preserve access to affordable child care, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Governor Tony Evers included the $480 million funding proposal in his budget, but it was stripped out by the Joint Finance Committee, which is controlled by Republicans. In response, Democratic legislators held a press conference announcing the reintroduction of the bill as standalone legislation.
Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein and Rep. Sheehan stressed that this funding is not just a child care issue, but an economic one. According to them, many businesses are already feeling the pressure as employees are forced to stay home due to a lack of child care options.
“This is about keeping our economy strong and families supported,” Hesselbein said.
Opposition from Republican Leadership
Despite strong backing from Democrats, the bill faces an uphill battle in Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature. Many GOP lawmakers argue that the program is not sustainable long term and question the effectiveness of continuing government subsidies for private child care providers.
Still, Democrats point to warnings from providers and experts who say that without renewed funding, child care deserts will grow and costs will skyrocket for working families.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, the average cost of child care for one infant in a licensed facility exceeds $12,000 annually—an expense that many households simply cannot afford.
Child care providers across the state have been vocal in their support for reinstating Child Care Counts funding. Many have stated that without it, they will be forced to lay off staff, reduce capacity, or shut down entirely.
“These funds were never extra—they were the only thing keeping us afloat,” said a Madison-based child care provider during a recent rally. “We’re already operating on thin margins, and with no help in sight, it’s only a matter of time before we have to close.”
The Child Care Counts program was widely praised during the pandemic for preventing a total collapse of the state’s child care infrastructure. Data from the Wisconsin Department of Administration shows that the program helped sustain over 3,000 providers during the height of COVID-19, serving more than 100,000 children.
Eliot Carter
Eliot Carter is a passionate gaming writer at ManateeHSNews, where he covers the latest gaming trends, reviews, and guides. With a deep knowledge of both indie and AAA games, Eliot shares expert insights and tips to help gamers of all levels. When not writing, he enjoys game streaming and exploring virtual worlds.
