Opinions

Sunday, Sep. 21, 2008

Child-support stimulus

We think it is entirely appropriate that federal stimulus checks are being diverted to stimulate the family income of people who are being stiffed by deadbeat dads or moms.

The Associated Press recently reviewed Treasury Department figures, and found that more than 1.4 million stimulus checks issued by the government to deadbeat parents have been seized by states and diverted to support children. A total of $831 million has been collected by child support agencies nationwide.

The government began issuing the checks last spring to encourage consumers to spend money and help jump-start the economy. Officials intended for the checks to go toward the purchase of TVs, cars and other goods.

But not all the money made it to those whose names were on the checks. If people owed money to the government, such as unpaid taxes, the check went right back to the government.

And many of those who were behind on child support payments didn't get a check either. States submit names and Social Security numbers of deadbeat parents to the IRS, which crosschecks those names against the lists of taxpayers receiving checks. The IRS then sends the checks to child support agencies.

Some states hold the checks for 180 days to allow the intended recipient a chance to appeal, but barring a successful appeal, the check goes to help pay child support.

Excuse us for gloating, but we love the idea of a deadbeat parent waiting for a stimulus check to go out and buy a big-screen TV and instead having to fork it over for child support. What could be fairer?