Earl Pomeroy: “This chart says it all. CBO estimates lower spending on child support program leads to lower collections to the tune of…”

“This chart says it all. CBO estimates lower spending on child support program leads to lower collections to the tune of $21 billion. It is truly stunning to me that Republicans in this House would line up together to cut the funds used to collect child support. I just never expected to see them give deadbeat dads a pass, those deadbeat dads who refuse to pay what they owe for the upbringing of their own children. The majority Members of this body are quick to boast of their support for family values. Well, I ask you this, what kind of family value is it that cuts back on the efforts to make deadbeat dads pay what they owe, when deadbeat dads walk away from their obligations? It won't be you smug in your own comfortable life who will feel the pain. It will be young mothers who can't pay rent. It will be little children whose lives are upended by financial abandonment. For every dollar we spend collecting on child support, we collect more than $4. In North Dakota, that means for every dollar collected, the Federal Government gets $2.78 back in recoveries and costs forgone. State governments also gain, which is precisely why the Congressional Budget Office has found this to be an unfunded mandate. When Republicans cut child support collections, deadbeat dads win. State governments lose. That is why tonight's proposal is an unfunded mandate and must be stopped.…”