Sacramento Bee Editorial

"Editorial: An opportunity remains
Legislature should revive child support bill

Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, September 8, 2007
Story appeared in EDITORIALS section, Page B6

Talk about punishing the poor! When a noncustodial parent in California, usually a father, pays child support for a child who is or was on welfare, only $50 goes to the child. The rest of the child support payment is used to reimburse the government for welfare payouts.

Because so little of the support money actually goes to children, the system discourages fathers from paying child support. And because it turns out to be better financially for their kids, many of these fathers work in the underground economy and slip money under the table to the mothers of their children. Because they get so little of the support payments, the mothers -- and the majority of custodial parents are mothers -- have little incentive to help the government find absent fathers or establish paternity.

But Congress changed the law, giving states authority to pass along more of the support payment absent fathers pay to their children. Under the new rules, the federal government would finance most of the cost. States can pocket the federal funds or pass the money on to poor children.

California still has an opportunity to do the right thing, and it should."


Here's a novel approach. Non Custodial parents need to pay their child support by the first of the month. No more allowing the department of child support services to say - "well of course the court order says it's due by the first, but we don't count it as not paid until the last day of the month." Immediate follow up when it's not paid.

If an employer can't get it right on their payroll system, let them pay a fine. If the non-custodial parent is unemployed, give them cuts in line at EDD to get help in finding a job.

If they are disabled and can't pay for some reason - then let them work it off in trade. There are several agencies contracted by each state for disabled people to get trained and work state jobs.

If they are being obnoxious and just don't want to pay, let them think about that in jail, or while they are performing serious community service.

If a custodial parent is on welfare, let them receive the full amount of any child support paid, and reduce the welfare payout that month to offset it.

Why are things so difficult? Oh yeah, because there are bureaucracies involved.
I think I'll start contacting the California Legislators this week and find out where they stand on child support legislation and why they have the stance they do. I'll report as I hear back from them.