The Cost of Raising Children

Much like the credit card commercial would say, the cost of raising a child is..."priceless".  But is it?

The US Department of Agriculture has estimated the cost of parenting and published tables for two-parent households and single-parent households.  The cost estimates end when a child reaches 18, but everyone knows that most parents still economically support their children for several years afterwards - either through tuition contributions, housing contributions, or a "little something".

Bankrate.com  has published an interactive worksheet to help plan the financial impact of a child on a family.

In 2002, The University of Minnesota published a well-reasoned paper on the cost of raising children.

So there are three easy-to-find tools available to prospective parents on the financial impact of raising a child.  But how many prospective parents actually use these tools?  Clearly not everyone.  According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, 18% of the children in the US are living in families that are officially considered "poor".  In California, that number translates into 2.12 million children living in poverty.

That number is simply unacceptable.

If people had to prove their ability to financially support a child, far less children would subject to this devastating condition.  If people were licensed, more children would be raised out of this economic quagmire.

Again, California voters clearly spoke that protecting the children was paramount when they passed Proposition 8.  Those of us who support TPFA believe it is in the best interest of everyone to make sure children are raised in a household that can support the child and his/her development.

People invest in IRAs. 401(k)s, retirement funds, mutual funds and all sorts of financial vehicles to ensure their comfort in the future.

Like the song says, "children are our future", and like any investment for the future, the financial impact must be evaluated.  There are financial thresholds for qualifying for a mortgage and car loan - those are simply things.   Yet there is no financial threshold for the expenditures required to parent a child.

Supporting TPFA will assure children the financial security they deserve.

What is "The Parental Fitness Act"?

That is a very good question.  

In wake of the passage of Proposition 8 in California banning same-sex marriage , The Parental Fitness Act (TPFA) is a new citizen-based initiative to further amend the California State Constitution that would, in effect, "license" new parents.

What are the basic tenets of TPFA?  There are simply two basic components to this proposed amendment:

1. Sufficient financial means to raise a child as demonstrated by credit history and income
   
2. Sufficient Emotional Quotient and maturity as demonstrated by psychological testing

We are not pro-choice or pro-life.  We do not advocate straight-rights or gay-rights.  Neither do we endorse either abstinence or sex education in public  schools.  It is important to say that we are not trying to take away the fundamental right of a couple or individual to parent.  However, if a couple or individual plan to have a child by procreation or adoption, we believe that couple or individual must show a minimal ability to properly parent and raise the child.

There are state licenses to hunt, fish, drive a car, practice medicine, and cut hair just to name a few.  So why shouldn't there be a state license to parent a child?  Healthy children are one of the most basic building blocks of any secure and stable society.

The passage of Proposition 8 in the last election clearly showed that the voters of California are intent on protecting  our children.   The best way to protect them is ensure they have sufficient resources, emotionally  mature parents, and nurturing environments in which to grow as they come into loving families.

In the coming days and weeks, this blog will be updated with information as to our progress, the text of the proposed amendment once it is finalized, our efforts across California, and other information.  Stay tuned!