The federal government has armed states with even more ammunition to combat deadbeat parents who owe $1 billion in delinquent child support payments – bank account numbers of 3 million parents who owe.

Monday, January 31, 2000

The federal government has armed states with even more ammunition to combat deadbeat parents who owe $1 billion in delinquent child support payments – bank account numbers of 3 million parents who owe.

Banks across the country have worked tirelessly with federal investigators on the project, the latest move to protect children through use of a law passed by Congress in 1996 to tap parents’ accounts, wages and tax refunds.

States have seized millions of dollars since the program began last year.

Notification to deadbeat parents vary in each state, but one thing is clear – there will be no ignoring this child support collection effort.

If parents don’t pay what’s owed, then they find out the next time they visit the ATM or teller window that they already have paid.

The Department of Health and Human Services said they will make no apologies for the "get-tough" method.

And they shouldn’t.

In hundreds of thousands of households across America, our children don’t know why mom or dad cry every month, wondering how to make the rent. They don’t understand why they always visit Goodwill for clothing. They don’t understand why Santa didn’t visit.

We all endure tough times, but our children deserve more out of life than living from paycheck to paycheck.

They don’t need to be ignored by a selfish parent who does not take responsibility seriously.

If you haven’t paid your child support, do it now.

If you won’t pay your child support, we hope the government already has your number – your bank account number.