The expanded child tax credit may have expired at the end of 2021, but one state is planning such a credit of its own. 

According to VT Digger, the House of Representatives in Vermont this week gave tentative approval to a bill that would send $1,200 per child to most families with children who are 6 or younger. In addition, the bill would spend about $1 million to expand income thresholds for Vermont’s Social Security income tax exemption.

The child tax credit part of the bill is modeled on the federal child tax credit. According to VT Digger, it would impact 50,000 children and cost about $48 million a year. 

“By passing the Vermont Child Tax Credit, we’re communicating clearly and unequivocally here that Vermont cares about kids and families — that this is the place where you can make it work,” Rep. Emilie Kornheiser said in a floor speech, per the report.

The vote was 102-46, with most Republicans, but not all, voting in opposition. 

“It is critical we continue to work together to support all Vermonters as we recover from pandemic and focus on building resilient communities,” Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski said in a separate statement. “Today’s vote on a child tax credit for working families and tax relief for older Vermonters is a key part of this plan. H.510 will provide needed relief for Vermonters to make payments on their mortgage or rent, buy food and basic essentials, pay for child care, and so much more.”

The question is whether the bill will become law. Vermont has a Republican governor, Phil Scott, who according to VT Digger has proposed his own tax cut package. Scott’s tax cut package is about the same price but would “offer relief to a broader swath of Vermonters.” The governor’s press secretary told the outlet that Scott’s package would benefit more than a quarter of people in Vermont. 

Meanwhile, in Washington… 

Hopes for an extension of the expanded child tax credit at the federal level appeared to have been dashed in December, when Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced his opposition to the Build Back Better package, leaving it without enough votes in the Senate.

However, according to NBC News, a group of Democratic senators has not given up hope on the child tax credit’s survival, in the hope that they can get Manchin to support some version of it. It’s unclear whether that’s likely.

Manchin told reporters Tuesday that he is “not a part of any organized discussions” when it comes to the child tax credit. The West Virginia senator has in the past said he favors a work requirement for the credit. 

 Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.

Image: Reuters.