Deadbeat Parent? Take the Bus

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Deadbeat parents who avoid paying child support could find themselves taking the bus, if Representative Julie Fisher has her way. She wants to suspend the driver licenses of parents who have the means to pay child support but refuse. The law might apply to Lori Russell's ex-husband:

"My ex-husband wasn't paying his child support and we heard that he went to Hawaii," says Russell. "He gave my kids his Hawaii souvenirs for Christmas and we didn't get a dime of child support last December. I mean how is that a slap in the face for my kids. He's in Hawaii and we can barely make ends meet."

Russell says her ex-husband has been behind on child support for most of the ten years they've been divorced. Her testimony helped get a unanimous vote of support for the measure from the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee yesterday. There are some concerns, however, that suspending the driver license of a deadbeat dad will impede his ability to earn a living and pay child support at all.

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