EXCERPT FROM: Review Messenger
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced legislation that will strengthen nutritional standards and promote healthy lifestyles for children in child care and after school programs.  The Healthy Living Starts Early Act of 2010 calls for changes to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to provide health education and guidance for child care providers and implements nutrition standards for meals served in the program.  Currently, one in four children are either obese or overweight before entering kindergarten.  Joining Klobuchar in introducing this legislation is Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).

EXCERPT FROM: SouthCoastToday.com
By Kimberly Carvalho
My friend is a mother raising an infant and cannot afford day care. Her family's economic status is considered middle class, as she and her husband are both employed. As a concerned friend, I would like to emphasize the importance of lowering the cost of day care for middle-class families. With costs averaging about $11,000 a year, Massachusetts has the most expensive day care in the United States.

EXCERPT FROM: The Topeka Capital-Journal
By Barbara Hollingsworth
The Kansas Senate on Tuesday took a step toward requiring inspections of all home day cares.

EXCERPT FROM: The Kansas City Star
By Matt Campbell
Missouri legislation that would cut money for child care would actually end up costing the state money, several area officials said Monday.

EXCERPT FROM: The Coloradoan
By Kevin Duggan
Local child care facilities and working families are starting to feel the pinch of tight county and state budgets.

EXCERPT FROM: KWQC 6
By Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn's administration is warning that his budget proposal will deliver painful news for people across Illinois.

EXCERPT FROM: BirthtoThrive Online
By Paul Nyhan
With time running out in the Washington State legislative session, a cut in child care subsidies for poor families remains a $30-million part of a House plan to balance the budget, though the Senate appears to support more funding.

EXCERPT FROM: Gotham Gazette
By Courtney Gross
More than 40 parents crowded the back room of Strong Place Day Care Center in Brooklyn. Their anger -- and fears -- were in stark contrast to the room's cheerful pink walls. Their calls of worry almost drowned out the laughter coming from a classroom down the hall.

EXCERPT FROM: MLive.com
By Lynn Moore
WEST MICHIGAN -- About 800 relatives and in-home day care aides who provide child care in Muskegon County must receive six hours of training to continue getting paid with state child care subsidies.

EXCERPT FROM: Sussex Countian
By Doug Denison
Dover, Del. — A plan to save money in the state’s Division of Social Services by reducing child care subsidies to needy families drew criticism from legislators and the public at a hearing before the General Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee March 3.