This week, we’ve got HB 221, which would potentially lower child support payments for non-custodial parents who spend time with their kids. This could be argued either way, and I don’t really have a strong opinion on it other than to say blanket standards for this sort of thing have always seemed like a bad idea to me. For every case of a divorced mother struggling to make rent payments while the father jet sets around town, you can also point to a mother who’s milking some poor bastard dry even though she doesn’t need the money. Seems like it should be an option for the judge to determine on a case-by-case basis, but not a blanket application (I get that impression perusing the bill).






That is always the case. It is never a good idea to have blanket application. It’s the same with no tolerance. One potentially rewards those who do not deserve it and the other potentially punishes those who shouldn’t be punished.
For instance (blank application of HB221): Should a herion addicted father really be allowed to save money for more drugs because he spent time potentially poisoning his child?
On the other side, the previous statement is an example of where no tolerance could go awry. Should he not have access to his son just because he’s an addict? It might help him clean up.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I guess things will never be black and white.
This comment adds absolutely nothing of value. My apologies.
I support the bill but thats because I am getting milked by my ex. I spend almost half the time with my daughter. (overnights) I keep hearing about her costs to transport, housing, food, clothing. Well if I have to do all those things on a regular basis why do I get treated like someone who doesn’t. At least the new bill recognizes that child support is tax free for the custodial parent and that some noncustodial parents do want to spend time with their children
The problem now is that the current law was not meant to be blanket, but judges consistantly impute income and set CS beyond the take home limits of the NCP. HB221 simply forces the judge to take into account the issues that they are supposed to anyway.
NO STRANGER SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE SUCH A CRITICAL DECISION WITH REGARD TO MY CHILDREN.