Sen. Mitt Romney has proposed a major overhaul to the tax and welfare system for parents, and it has triggered a debate among serious thinkers on the Right.

Ramesh Ponnuru admits there may be some negative effects of this overhaul (we don’t know!), but he adds, importantly, “It would also make it easier for people to start and expand their families.” Ross Douthat agrees that Romney’s proposal could help America make more babies.