Testimony of Attorney General Mike Cox

Thursday, February 20, 2003

Thank you for allowing me this time today to discuss with you an issue that I feel is one of the most important we face in government: unpaid child support.  This issue has serious financial implications for the state of Michigan, but more importantly for hundreds of thousands of Michigan families.

There is no doubt that a changing society has dramatically altered the lives of many of our kids. Higher divorce rates, remarriages and single parents have all led to a vastly different life for many of today’s children.  But while certain aspects of the “average” American family may have changed, one thing has not and should not ever change: a parent’s commitment and duty to support their child.

We face an epidemic in Michigan.  Some 600,000 children in Michigan do not receive the child support they deserve.  Of that group, over 400,000 receive no support at all – not a dime.  This is an epidemic which not only has serious financial ramifications for families and our state, but one which I believe will spawn severe social consequences in Michigan’s future if we do not tackle this problem head on today. 

I spent over 13 years as a prosecutor.  In virtually every case where I prosecuted a violent criminal, two factors were almost always present: 1) the offender had not graduated from high school, and 2) at some point in their life, the offender had a parent who ceased to support them.  

            As a society, we all bear the costs when a child turns down the wrong path.  A parent who neglects their duty in supporting their child puts that child at risk, and, in doing so, puts us all at risk. 

            Michigan currently ranks third from the bottom, behind only California and Texas, in the total amount of child support arrearages due – nearly $7 billion dollars.  Third from the bottom and $7 billion that has gone unpaid.  That’s roughly $700 for every Michigan resident, and its something we ought to be ashamed of. 

            Of that $7 billion, over $3 billion is owed to the state.  As we face very serious fiscal challenges in the coming months, that number is an offense to the hardworking men and women of this state who are picking up the tab for deadbeat parents who refuse to pay.

            One of my first priorities as Attorney General was to set up a new Child Support Collections Division within my office.  On Tuesday, I announced the appointment of Cass County Prosecutor Scott Teter to head this new division.  As a prosecutor, Mr. Teter helped collect over $1 million dollars in back support from 1997 to 2001.  He is a tireless advocate for our kids, and he has successfully prosecuted over 200 felony non-support cases and provided support to 23 other counties in prosecuting non-support cases.

            Let me be clear, that is what this issue is all about: deadbeats who refuse to pay.  This is not a witch-hunt against parents who may have lost a job, or who have fallen on hard times.  Sometimes support payments fall behind when mom or dad are out of work through no fault of their own.  This happens.  And, when it does, the state will deal with these cases with compassion and understanding as we always have.  This is not about those who struggle; this is about those who have the means and refuse to pay.  This is about the deadbeat parents who skip town, falsify records, avoid payments and dodge their responsibilities as a parent.  My new Child Support Collections Division Director, Mr. Teter, put it best when he said, “This is not about those who cannot pay; this is about those who won’t pay.”

             I am confident that this new division can and will make a difference in the lives of Michigan families and for our state.  A few years ago the state of Iowa adopted a similar child support collection system that we are attempting to recreate here in Michigan.  Today, Iowa has a 71 percent collection rate for child support, one of the best in the nation.  Michigan currently collects only 47 percent of its child support.   This has got to change, and with my new division and the help of this committee, this Legislature, the FIA and Governor, it will. 

            I understand that later today this committee will be presented with information on the new child support computer system.  I certainly applaud this effort and hope it will become an important tool in tracking down deadbeat parents.  However, I do want to add one note of caution if I may: it is going to take more than a computer to solve this problem.  We need the combined efforts of new technology, the bully pulpit of government and community, and when necessary the active involvement of law enforcement to solve this problem.  Information will be an important asset in this fight, but only if we act upon that information and take the appropriate steps to crack down on deadbeat parents.

            I would like to conclude by saying that I know there are many in this state who feel as passionately about this issue as I do.  I know that the members of this committee are as concerned as I am about this problem and are as committed as I am to ensuring that our children are given a future they deserve. 

            Working together I am confident that we can and will make a difference, and I look forward to working with this committee, the citizens of this state, the Legislature and the Governor to create solutions and take the necessary steps to ensure that every Michigan child is given the support they deserve.  Thank you.