Child Support; Best Interest for who? Child, Parent or State
From a meeting with Utah State Senator Greg Bell. Child support is often thought of money spent in the child’s best interest. However, the unspoken truth is that child support is unaccounted funds given to the custodial parent and further used in a competition for federal bonus funds.
In the first half of the video, concerned citizen, Tony Curtis, questions whose interest is served by child support. Senator Bells attests that millions of dollars are tied to child support – the interest of the state. In the second half of the video a grown child of divorce testifies as to the need for more accountability.
One of the most discussed issues at the meeting was 50/50 equal parenting legislation. Senator Bell explained to attendees the difficulties with jumping immediately to a 50/50 parenting presumption from the legislative and practical points of view and was open to looking further into 50/50 equal Parenting based on research and studies.
Transcript:
Audience member: The best interests of the child is what I want to talk about. When we discuss this issue of 50/50 custody what often comes up is the economic situation for mothers. That’s not talking about the best interests of the child then. You’ve switched from the best interests of the child now to the best interests of one parent. And what I would like to say about this is we really need to separate those two issues, because if it’s truly in the best interests of the child having involvement from both parents, then why are we messing with that because we’re concerned about economics for one parent?
Senator Bell: Well, you make a great point and if you and I were designing a new world that’s where we would start. But we’re not. We’re stuck with a system and I’m just saying that there’s no way you’re going to lop off hundreds of millions of child support overnight or for even a three year ammortization. You know what I’m saying. It’s a huge economic and social shift and you know whether you and I and all the angels agree or not we’re not going to get the governor and 103 other people you know to move there overnight so ah you’re right. The interests of the child is not necesarily found with the child support cause the child support may or may not go to the best interest of the children.
Another audience member: Senator Bell, I am one of those children. My parents divorced in Montana. And my dad currently lives here in Utah. It was a very unfair situation and I’d like to see something on the legislature that puts parents in responsibility to that child support. I’d like to see a program like Horizontee cards for welfare that maybe we keep track of that child support so that we know it’s going for the children cause it’s not parental support, it’s child support. And my mom took the child support and didn’t use it to support me. My mom never gave me a college fund. She never made sure I had the tools to be a successful adult. I escaped from my mother from a very abusive situation at the age of 17. My dad had to continue paying child support till I was 19. And I didn’t live with my mom and I had no support from her. I would like to see something on the legislature that changes to where we do keep track of child support. My dad is currently $140,000… of what it goes towards, of what it’s spent on. Because the price of raising a child is not dependent on a percentage of a wage, it is a price, but shouldn’t we keep track of where that money goes so it’s not used for mommy when the children are gone, for her and the new husband to go away to Hawaii. That’s not a very useful use of that child support… and there’s parents trading there child support for drugs and all sorts of ridiculous things.
Just how much money is this hundreds of millions in child support?? According to the website of the Utah Office of Recovery Services, over $195.9 million was collected in fiscal year 2006. Of this amount over $23.4 million was distributed to the Utah Department of Health (as apposed to being distributed to recipient parents), and at least $6.3 million made it directly into the state’s general fund (as apposed to being distributed to recipient parents).
Duration : 0:4:18
@loufriboucheful …
@loufriboucheful very true
my kids mom pays …
my kids mom pays support from her husbands income tax we see nothing of it we live in NY.More than 5000$ we get none cause they say im handicapped and the boys get welfare help what a bunch of crap!!The females are not punished for not paying are they?
@1zzzzzzz1
that, …
@1zzzzzzz1
that, unfortunately, is not a solution because biology has existed a lot longer than reason and logic and assuming every man does choose to forgo their natural desire for sex, we would STILL need to take into consideration that fact that women need only ACCUSE us of something and the national media will go into a frenzy. So what if the courts almost always prove that he is not guilty of anything.
It is not longer about what men do, it is about what women say.
@c00lwatter
…
@c00lwatter
you’re right !!I don’t understand why men would vote such laws who OVERfavorize the women and give them so MUCH POWER!!!
@loufriboucheful
…
@loufriboucheful
Yes, we are absolutely responsible for these issues and as such it is the responsibility of men to undo this atrocity. And as a rule those who are responsible should be willing to n ot only accept responsibility, but take honest effort to ensure that the errors are not repeated.
@c00lwatter Well …
@c00lwatter Well said. I have been saying this myself for years. This is a perfect example of why we have broken homes in America.
That’s is the man’s …
That’s is the man’s fault!!All family laws who advantage the woman are voted by men!So it’s their fault
which means you …
which means you should pay 50% of that too!
I just got 100 …
I just got 100 dollars taken from my bank account. Wells Fargo Bank charges 100 bucks
For “Legal processing Fees” and I’m telling everyone about it.
If you are a Dad like me,
who pays child support like me.
and has NEVER missed a payment, like me.
You are now subject to random searches of your bank account by the state.
Each time the state asks the banks about your account,
the Bank will now take 100 bucks from your account, for their trouble.
“”why is it always …
“”why is it always the one receiving the support that complain? since it is usually the women….and 70%? the time they initiate the divorce.”" I agree. Men have always been the structure of family because men are built to be family leaders. Destroyed Families = A destroyed Nation.
Its can be a very …
Its can be a very depressing situation to be in. I know i am a sibngle parent too. But have managed to find a way out.
Look forward to hearing from you
sarah
I mean…complain …
I mean…complain about not getting enough
why is it always …
why is it always the one receiving the support that complain? since it is usually the women….and 70% the time they initiate the divorce.
@reporter69692003 I …
@reporter69692003 I have 3 kids which means I have to have more bedrooms than 1, which means that they use more water, which means that I have a bigger vehicle. Again, child support is HORRIBLE and there is no right answer. In my opinion, ALL involved are given the short end of the stick.
child support is …
child support is for all that but not your cloths and activities a place to live is something you have to have water and heat the cost for a kid for these things are a small part of your costs. I pay child support for 1 of my sons and one lives with me it cost a lot less for the kid that lives with me and he gets way better care.
wow…they didn’t …
wow…they didn’t even want to listen to her! I wouldn’t have a problem tracking my child support payments. Yet, I do NOT believe they should only be used for clothing, education, food or activities. Where do the kids sleep? What water is used to flush the toilet? Come on…the system is SO messed up!!!
Child support is a …
Child support is a scam..plain and simple..It wouldnt surprise me if some guy flipped his lid and bombed the out of the offices in protest, I doubt many tears would be shed.
make both people …
make both people pay child support so both got to work
child support is …
child support is slavery
Here is how to stop …
Here is how to stop alot of these woman!A law where a man can go to the abortion clinic and have them notify that childs mom before its born.Letting her know he aborted it if its not a great idea for him to be involved and will pay for it.If she dont show then its all hers! One nite stands/traps/unfit moms ect, This can come into play!
Child support
Is …
Child support
Is very prejudice and only favors the woman and what she says ,most women are LIARS
CSFC Child Support …
CSFC Child Support Fund Card… where you cannot purchase adult clothing, only children’s stores like Kids R Us or Toys R Us ,Childrens place, etc. Movie Ticket for child… food but only a fair set amount per week
anotheronem what …
anotheronem what you said I was saying for years …
cbr6864 couldnt …
cbr6864 couldnt have put it any better
child support is …
child support is for the state and county. they lock you up if you get behind because they make money per each person in jail plus the interest on teh payments your not making whil ein jail. once you get out your back whee you started from but without a job, car, place tp live plus you are further behind.
it is yet another example of a corrupt govt.