Jauch Concerned About Dead Beat Dads
State Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) on Tuesday denounced a decision by the Joint Finance Committee.
“Actions taken today by the Joint Finance Committee will shortchange Northern Wisconsin counties by over $515,000 and severely restrict their ability to collect child support from dead beat dads,” Jauch said after the committee voted to accept a proposal by Governor Scott Walker to cut $4.25 million in child support enforcement aid to counties. Jauch is a member of the committee and voted against the proposal.
The cuts will also cost Wisconsin counties an additional $8 million in lost federal matching funds, Jauch reports.
"It is one thing to reduce spending for wasteful programs or eliminate duplicative and unnecessary initiatives but it is downright heartless for the Republicans and Governor to turn their back on a program that assures that payments are made to support children," Jauch told committee members. "It is also fiscally reckless to fail to adequately fund one of the best child support programs in the nation that in turn generates substantial savings to Wisconsin."
The lawmaker added that Wisconsin is third in the nation in collecting child support, having collected $900 million in 2009. Jauch estimates that the additional $4.25 million in funding could have saved the government $14.75 million by helping families stay off of public assistance. He warned that the budget cuts and layoffs will lead to layoffs, higher caseloads and a potential reduction in the amount of funds collected from irresponsible fathers.
“35 percent of the children in Douglas County are part of the caseload being served by child support enforcement officers at the county,” Jauch said. “These kids have already been abandoned by one parent, now they are being abandoned by their state government.”
He added that the cuts would force Douglas County to eliminate at least one full-time position. The county currently has seven child support investigators managing a total caseload of 3,300 cases, averaging 475 cases per investigator.
“Our counties are doing a good job of making sure that parents are held accountable and that families have the resources they need to stand on their own feet,” said Jauch. “These cuts will only ensure that fewer cases are handled, forcing more families to turn to public assistance to make ends meet. It simply doesn’t make any sense to cut a program that is so clearly working in the best interests of families and taxpayers.”
Jauch said the committee decision confirms that there is no compassion in the conservatives who make up the Legislative majority.