To the editor:

Frequently it is said that the “devil is in the details.” Example: Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation titled the Child Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2014. At first glance, policymakers are providing an expansion of the child tax credit for families in light of the rising cost of raising children. Parents with incomes of six figures would become eligible for the CTC. However, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the bill actually leaves behind low-income working parents.

In looking at the proposed changes, by 2018, a married couple with two children making a combined salary of $160,000 would receive a new tax credit of $2,200 while a single mother with two children making the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or $14,500 a year would lose $1,725. And this parent, who is working full time, just as expected, would no longer be eligible. There lie the dirty details on how the inequality gap would worsen.

Yes, middle-income parents would get some benefit with higher-income families coming out the big winners as they become eligible for the tax credit. And lower income families? They would be the real losers if this plan goes into law. More of the same as the poor get poorer and the rich get richer? You bet.