Dem pollster says US government hasn’t recognized changing family structures

Democratic pollster Nancy Zdunkewicz said in an interview that aired Tuesday on Hill.TV that the U.S. government has yet to recognize the changing nature of family structures in the 21st century.

“The government does not really reflect the changing nature of the way that families are structured and that they work, and the changing nature of work in the 21st century,” Zdunkewicz, managing editor at Democracy Corps, told host Jamal Simmons on “What America’s Thinking” on Monday. 

“And it is particularly difficult for single parents,” she added. 

Zdunkewicz said policies like universal daycare are popular with Americans because they cater to the changing family structures in the U.S. 

“These are some of the most popular policies, paid family leave, equal pay expanded access to early childhood education, universal Pre-K, expanded Headstart,” she said. 

A new Hill-HarrisX survey, released on Tuesday, found that 37 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 supported tuition-free daycare, while 34 percent backed half-cost daycare. 

However, Americans over the age of 50 are widely against using taxpayer funds to provide universal daycare to preschools. 

Seventy-two percent of registered voters age 50 or older said daycare costs should be paid by parents, according to the poll. 

— Julia Manchester