Mike Levin: “I want to take the language we have heard from the Republicans in the last few minutes and apply it to child support.…”

“I want to take the language we have heard from the Republicans in the last few minutes and apply it to child support. CBO says this budget will result in $24 billion less in child support over the next 10 years. That is the Congressional Budget Office. All right, one of you said Washington spends too much, too unwisely. Cutting child support payments by $24 billion? You also said not how much, but how it is spent. Yes, it is spent in administrative expenditures to collect money for children. Oh, and one of you said it is the family budget that is at stake. Absolutely, families with kids who are entitled to child support, and you are going to reduce what is collected by $24 billion over the next 10 years. And then the lingo we hear, ``slow the growth rate.'' Under this formula, the money goes to the States and to the counties to collect money that is owed to children. I spent some time out in Macomb County talking to the people who administer this program, and I wish I could bring just one of the children who will be harmed by what you are doing and put them on this table, and have you look them in the eye and repeat your language. I do not think you would dare do it.”