Parents Will Pay for Kids, Not Feds

A pilot project in Wisconsin revealed that when parents owing child support know it is going to their children - and not government agencies, as has been the case recently - they are more likely to pay, and pay on time.  Now, more states are putting child support payments directly in the hands of parents on public assistance, rather than diverting it to cover their own administrative costs.

Despite the fact that there's an obvious cyclical benefit here - if you give parents the money directly, they have less need to rely on the state for assistance - many governments are still reluctant to make the change, citing their own budget woes.  Sigh.  I've always thought it particularly punitive and hypocritical that we chastise mothers and fathers for seeking public assistance, then siphoned off a critical chunk of money owed to them that could help with their economic hardship.  Good for the few states who are catching on.

And a hollow laugh at the reality that when you convince people that government is wasteful, they might take issue with sending their money right along.

Here's hoping more states come around to passing on these millions and millions of overdue dollars to parents and children in need.

(Photo "A Day at the Races" by bufferchuck)