Pittsburgh City Council advances proposal to allow campaign funds to be used for some childcare

A measure that would allow people running for elected office in the City of Pittsburgh to use campaign funds for certain childcare expenses was advanced by City Council on Wednesday.

The legislation would permit candidate committees to use campaign money to pay for childcare expenses incurred during an election cycle for “reasonable and necessary childcare for the time the candidate is engaging in campaign activity.”

Several council members, some of them parents who faced the task of balancing a campaign and caring for children, spoke in favor of the bill during Wednesday’s meeting.

“It’s a real barrier,” Councilwoman Deb Gross said of childcare costs, explaining that she has heard several candidates carefully weigh how they could afford childcare while running for office before deciding whether to run.

Councilman Bobby Wilson said that when he was running for office, he was fortunate to have the resources for childcare — but his wife still ended up shouldering much of the burden. Council members acknowledged that not everyone who would like to seek public office has the resources or the family nearby to help fill in for childcare.

“So much of this is really just about signaling if you are a parent, you are raising a family, you can run for office,” Councilwoman Erika Strassburger said.

The proposal would allow campaign funds to be used for costs including professional or casual babysitting and organizations that offer childcare, but it would not encompass things like pre-primary, primary or secondary educations.

The money could not be used to pay family members or members of the candidate’s household for watching their children.

Expenses related to childcare would be disclosed in the same manner as other expenditures that the candidate committees are required to disclose.

The legislation — introduced by Councilman Corey O’Connor, himself a new father — would go into effect during the election cycle immediately following its adoption, if it gains City Council’s approval.