Lack of or problems with child care is one of the foremost reasons that employees give employers for missing work and for lower productivity, what will the State be doing to increase child care affordability and availability?

 There has been a lot of talk within the state that it is important to improve the quality of care and we all know that quality care costs money.  The state subsidies rates were raised by 2% this year, but the rates that the State uses are based on a market survey from 1996 and the State  only pays 75% of that rate.  Costs of care  have risen significantly, what is your plan for increasing the amount that is paid  by the state by child care providers?

 The State is requiring more and more training for child care providers, but it has been harder and harder to find low cost or free training in the State, how will increase the availability of child care training so that providers can continue their professional development?  This is especially important for those child care providers who choose not to attend college classes.

 There has been significant drop in the number of child care providers since December of 2006 when the new regulations regarding licensing took effect. On exit surveys being conducted as to why they are leaving care, many sight that they cannot afford to stay in care because of the requirements from the State.  At one time, there were dollars available for improvement of care as well as start up of new programs.  Do you foresee a time when those might be available again?