The amount is stunning: $4.5 billion. That’s the total owed in child support by parents — fathers and mothers — in the Washington metropolitan area. By contrast, the uncollected payments for the region’s children are only $1 billion shy of the District’s local budget for fiscal 2009. The arrears amount in Maryland — nearly $1.6 billion — is greater than its current $350 million shortfall.
States across the country have approved aggressive measures to collect money from “deadbeat” parents. Some laws make it possible to garnish paychecks. Others allow for revocation of licenses. More egregious violators can be thrown in jail. But, The Examiner’s Kathleen Miller and Jaime Malarkey reported earlier this week that the region’s laws aren’t being enforced
“We’ve made great progress in the last five years getting wages withheld,” Benidia Rice, deputy attorney general for child support, says about the District’s efforts to collect an outstanding $276 million from noncustodial parents.
