Making Papa Pay
Dr. Otis R. Bowen, secretary of health and human services, has promulgated federal regulations to encourage the states to pursue more actively fugitives from child-support obligations in other states. His is a good and timely proposal.
States already receive substantial funds from Washington to facilitate enforcement of child support, but some have been less than energetic in pursuing deadbeats with obligations to children in other states. This is no small matter. An estimated 30% of child-support cases involve a former spouse who has moved across state lines.
Under the new regulations, there will be standardized reporting that will make clearer what is being done, and there will be deadlines for acknowledging out-of-state claims. For states that do not address the problem appropriately, there will be the prospect of reduced federal support. So there should be.
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