PORTLAND (AP) — President Barack Obama says tens of thousands of Maine families would benefit from his middle-class tax cut plan.

Obama held interviews Monday with five local television stations, including Maine’s WCSH-TV, to highlight his proposals.

Obama wants to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit for workers who don’t have children living at home, which his administration says would benefit 63,000 Mainers. He also wants to increase the child care tax credit for young children to $3,000 per child.

Obama compared his plan to Republicans’ proposal to repeal the inheritance tax on large estates, which he says would’ve helped just 10 wealthy Maine families last year.

Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, question how the president would pay for his plan when the country is already $18 trillion in debt.