For many concerned about the well-being of children and families—whether they're program managers, service providers, advocates, policymakers, or policy watchers—tax policy is terra incognita, a distant, tangled domain best left unexplored. But tax policy has become a powerful partner to government spending over the past two decades. The recent economic stimulus package included many tax provisions focused on children and families and President Obama's proposed fiscal 2010 budget promises more.

This Thursday's Child investigates questions including who wins and who loses with recent and proposed changes to the tax code? What are the opportunities and challenges of using the tax code to aid families? What tax policies for children and families are governors and state legislatures considering?

Panelists

Shelley Waters Boots, senior research associate, Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population, Urban Institute (moderator)

Robert Carroll, vice president for economic policy, Tax Foundation

Nicholas Johnson, director, State Fiscal Project, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Tiffany Smith, tax counsel, Senate Committee on Finance (Majority Staff)

Roberton Williams, senior fellow, Tax Policy Center, Urban Institute