SOUTH BEND -- One bill at a time, U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., is establishing himself as a champion of the middle class.

A month ago, the former Indiana governor came to South Bend in support of legislation intended to make getting a college education more affordable.

On Wednesday, Bayh stopped in South Bend to discuss a new bill intended to help families meet the cost of raising children.

In the near future, Bayh said, he will focus on responses to the rising cost of health care.

Acknowledging that he is beginning to see himself as a champion of the middle class, Bayh said that in addition to his efforts to improve national security, he has focused on efforts to reduce the "middle-class squeeze."

"The middle class is the foundation upon which our country has always been built," Bayh said.

"Many families are struggling to realize the American dream. If they're willing to work hard and sacrifice to achieve opportunity, we ought to give them a helping hand.

"Too often the middle class gets left out and they're left asking, 'Who's representing me?'" Bayh said. "I think we need to represent them."

The cost of college, child care, health care, pension insecurities and promoting good job opportunities are among the issues he often hears about, Bayh said. "The financial challenges that face our middle class are going to be one of the defining issues of our generation."

In addition to helping families pay child-care costs, the Middle Class Opportunity Act of 2007 also offers relief for families with dependent parents or grandparents.

On Wednesday, Bayh was joined by Mindy and Shawn Todd, of South Bend, who said credits built into the legislation would help them meet child-care costs that, in terms of monthly outlay, rival the cost of their home mortgage.

Although the estimated $660-a-year child-care credit they would receive would be a fraction of the $840 a month the couple spent on child care last year for their daughters, Carly, 5, and Anna, 3, the Todds expressed enthusiasm for the proposed legislation.

"Every little bit helps," Mindy Todd said.

Shawn Todd said the extra $50-a-month credit could make a difference in helping him balance the family checkbook.

Mindy Todd said the dependent care and child tax credits would help her family a great deal.

Bayh said that in Washington, efforts are often focused on the less fortunate, "and that's good."

Noting that the rich "can take care of themselves," Bayh indicated that between those extremes are the middle-class families who run the risk of getting left to the side. "That's not right," he said. "We can't afford to let that happen."

Under current law, lower-income families can receive a credit of up to 35 percent for child-care expenses, while families earning $43,000 or more can get a credit of only 20 percent.

The new legislation would allow a full 35 percent credit for families earning up to $75,000 and provide the average two-child family with an additional $900 a year. From $75,000 to $100,000, the credit would phase down to the 20 percent level.

Bayh said the bill would double the current federal tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 during a child's first year of life to help parents with the cost of new babies.

The legislation also would provide a break for those who care for aging parents, even if the parent does not live with them, as is now required.

"That doesn't fit the circumstances of many middle-class families today," said Bayh.

The Hoosier Democrat estimated that the legislation would help 124,000 Indiana families and cost about $5 billion a year.

"These are things we can afford," said Bayh, who suggested that the cost could be made up by capping pork barrel spending or closing corporate tax loopholes.

Bayh is a co-sponsor of the bill, which was introduced by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

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