Child support hits jackpot
By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published May 29, 2008 at 7:04 a.m.
Updated May 29, 2008 at 2:16 p.m.
A deadbeat dad who wins at a Colorado casino or racetrack with the old gambler's plea, "Baby needs a new pair of shoes," will soon have to fork over the cash to his kid.
Starting July 1, Colorado will become the first state in the nation to seize the casino winnings of parents owing children support. Many states, including Colorado, already go after delinquent parents' lottery windfalls.
"When a guy goes up there and gambles, the money he puts in that slot machine is his kid's money," said Rep. Joel Judd, the Denver Democrat who finally passed the law last year after rolling "snake eyes" during five earlier tries.
"Hey, if the dad wins, the kids should win," he said.
Now, a deadbeat parent who wins more than $1,200 on a slot machine and more than $600 on other forms of gambling, including horse and greyhound racing, will be forced to hand over the dough. Gaming operators are required to check a winner's name against a state Internet list of delinquent parents.
The law's passage shows Judd's stubborn determination and sheer luck after the gaming industry repeatedly trumped his other bids.
Judd said gaming operators complained garnishing customers' winnings on the spot would place an difficult and unpleasant burden on them.
"I told them, 'There is no other line of business better equipped to handle an angry customer than yours,'" Judd recalled. He noted that the state already requires banks, firms and other businesses to cooperate on child support collection.
Yet, even last year, Judd's bill was sunk in a Senate committee with help from fellow Democrats.
Then he noticed a bill introduced late in the session by Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Steve Ward, R-Littleton, to comply with new federal funding requirements for state child-support enforcement.
"The bill had this lovely title — 'Concerning Child Support Obligations,'" Judd recalled. "I said, 'Well, that's something I can use.'"
Judd succeeded with a House floor amendment to get his Gambling Payment Intercept Act inserted in the new bill.
Then it was stripped out in a Senate committee.
Yet, this time, Sen. Ted Harvey, a Highlands Ranch Republican, came to the Democrat's aid by plugging the deadbeat parent amendment back into the bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
On the last day of the 2007 legislative session, the bill faced "a knock-down-drag-out battle" on the Senate floor, Judd said.
Critics argued it would deny hard-working people their right to a little harmless entertainment.
The bill's original Republican Senate sponsor, "Steve Ward, gets up and says: 'These folks aren't the salt of the earth, they're dead beat dads,'" Judd said.
It passed and the self-described "liberal Democrat" stressed it only happened "because it had backing from a number of major players in the Republican Party."
West Virginia's Department of Health and Human Resources may start garnishing delinquent parents' table game winnings later this summer. It could expand to slot machine pots later.
Judd said he's getting interested calls from officials in Missouri and Pennsylvania.
"If this is really producing meaningful amounts for the kids after the first year of operation in Colorado, then I think a lot of states will be interested," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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May 29, 2008
8:34 a.m.
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alwaysright writes:
Win or lose if they have bucks to gamble with take the kids share out of it.
May 29, 2008
8:58 a.m.
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happymike44 writes:
This is a great idea,now instead of drinking and gambling it away the kids might stand a chance to see what is owed to them.Remember kids are not like a puppy that you grow tired of.Once you have them then you have to take care of them for the next 18 years.To all the deadbeat scumbags feed your kids and make sure they can live in a safe place to go to bed at night.Also if you don't want kids don't have them this will save a lot of child support.
May 29, 2008
9:08 a.m.
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VoiceOfTheRockies writes:
This is great progress! Now for another real problem. How do you nail the deadbeats that can't/won't find a steady job or the ones that only take on handyman work, which is usually paid under the table? You can spend money to take them to court but the judge can't/won't make them work.
May 29, 2008
9:16 a.m.
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GWBushwacked writes:
Oh my god, this is going to ruin casinos..If the deadbeat dads cannot gamble without the worry of their winnings being garnished, they will just stay home......Oh, wait, that's the smokers............
May 29, 2008
9:41 a.m.
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momof5 writes:
I agree, if they win and they owe child support, they should pay.
I'd also like to see some teeth in the laws for deadbeat parents. My ex owes $58,000 in back support. He won't work. Everytime I get him into court the judge "gives him another chance". What's up with that? How many chances does he need? Put him in jail. Suspend his driver's license. Let me take his car and sell it. I don't care. He's a big, healthy looking guy so he's getting money for food somewhere. I'd just like a little of it to help support my kids so I don't have to work two jobs.
May 29, 2008
10:17 a.m.
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CalebTGL writes:
Why should it be the responsibility of a private corporation to do the government's work?
May 29, 2008
10:19 a.m.
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momof5 writes:
How do you know the guy is going to be a deadbeat? I certainly didn't. He had a decent job. He went to church. Was a nice guy. Guess the pressures of being a man, standing by his family and working hard got the best of him and he bailed, leaving me with 5 kids to raise. Actually went on to have other kids with another wife - who he then left in basically the same situation. So, how do you tell?
Hopefully, I've done a better job of raising my sons - and I'll tell my daughter to be on the lookout for deadbeats.
May 29, 2008
11 a.m.
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Dhakala writes:
While the intent of these programs is admirable, it just doesn't seem practical to implement it. Already, recipients of child support are being charged $25/year for child support enforcement services. Those services are underfunded and don't have the money to police casinos. Plus, the odds of "winning big" at casinos are pretty small. These programs won't collect much money.
May 29, 2008
11:20 a.m.
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dwanders writes:
Here's yet another story of the government's "we will hunt you down" approach to treating every man as a deadbeat dad first, father second. I'm a father who has paid every dollar of child support, yet I'm constantly reminded that the government is ready to take my money no matter what. I'm not against child support. Many mothers have suffered greatly by a system that let dads off the hook. But now the other extreme exists. The Family Support system needs more funding for managing the child support process. Not more laws that add government red tape. I would love to make more money for my family. My son deserves the best! But there is a mentality in the system that constantly reminds me "we're here to take your money. We're going to take it now. You can ask questions later." It's discouraging, and there's certainly no mention of fathering - just money. I'm expecting someday to have my passport revoked because the child support database wasn't updated properly and, with a vacation ruined, I now have to tackle the government system to clear it. All the while considered a deadbeat dad until proven innocent.
May 29, 2008
11:55 a.m.
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Finding_Forever writes:
Momof5,
You bring the father of your children into almost every discussion, why is that? He couldnt have been that bad, you had five kids with him. On another note, the signs of a deadbeat are usually there, its up to the women to be smart enough and move away from that kind of situation before its too late.
May 29, 2008
12:06 p.m.
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MaxInEnglewood writes:
Hmmm, interesting. Most of these guys owe several thousand dollars in back child support, and a typical "big win" in Colorado casino's is only about $5K, and of course taxes will come first. Cool plan, I just dont think it will the affect they think it will have. Hey Momof5, $60K owed in back child support?! Yikes! You probably wont ever see that money. That brings up another thing, why do women keep having kids by these losers?
May 29, 2008
12:22 p.m.
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momof5 writes:
Wow, I wish I had the psychic powers that all of you guys seem to have. Why keep having kids with a loser? Again, what tells a woman that the guy is a loser? He goes to work every day. Brings home a decent paycheck. Works hard. Then one day he decides the pressures of being a parent is too much and decides he'd rather be free. Happens all the time. Since you all have such amazing psychic powers, I'll assume you've never made a mistake about a person.
And why bring my ex into this discussion? Because it's about child support. If I bring my ex into other discussions, it's because it's relevant to what the article is about. Why do some of you bring race into every single discussion? Why do you bring Bush and the war into every discussion. 99% of the time those comments are not relevant to the article you are discussing.
Yeah, you are right. It's $60,000 I'll never see. My comment was too bad the laws don't have some teeth in them to catch deadbeat parents. Make them pay whether it's taking personal property or putting them in jail and making them work on work release or some other program. But I see some of you want to make it about whether I should have had 5 kids with this guy. So let me clear that up for you. I'm not taking anything from you or the government. I work 2 jobs. I raise my kids alone. We don't ask for or get any handouts.
Sure, I'd like to have that $60,000. Sure would make life nicer if I didn't have to work two jobs. But this is the hand I was dealt. As my kids grow up they realize they have one parent who put them above everything else in life. Who worked hard to give them a decent life. And they have one parent who is a deadbeat. One of us they have respect for. The other they don't. One of us will be blessed with a great relationship with them as they become adults. One of us won't.
Whatever. Don't try to judge me or my life. You don't know jack about me.
May 29, 2008
12:46 p.m.
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MaxInEnglewood writes:
Guess I got told. *finger snap*
May 29, 2008
3:09 p.m.
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BroncoRick69 writes:
Someone got told. I wonder if shes single now?
May 29, 2008
5:40 p.m.
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Brain writes:
Not sure this is good; usually more government isn't.
May 29, 2008
7:47 p.m.
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Nico writes:
Same old rule, "If you cannot afford to lose, DON'T gamble." If you owe back support you cannot afford to lose. Simple solution: Pay your support THEN go gamble. Problem solved. Duh.
But, while we're at it, what about all the dead beat moms? Do they get their money confiscated?
May 29, 2008
10:20 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
Well it seems after the first time he was a jerk you would have realized what a penis head he is. So momof5 I respect you in the ability of taking care of your family.Most people never understand how hard it is to be a single parent.I must commend you on keeping your family together no matter what.So come on and give the woman some credit for what she does everyday.The reason she brings up the jerk is he has hurt her.Not just fiscally but emotionally as well.So to mom keep up the good job for loving and caring for your kids.Hope the jerk gets the fleas of a thousand camels in his crotch and can't get rid of them.
May 30, 2008
1:32 a.m.
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ManginoTorreta writes:
"Hopefully, I've done a better job of raising my sons - and I'll tell my daughter to be on the lookout for deadbeats."
Hopefully, you will tell your sons the same thing--it's not just men that skimp out on child support. It's telling that Judd targets only men in his rhetoric, but I guess it's a violation of the Democrat PC code to point out that .
Speaking as someone who had a deadbeat father (who, 18 years later, is STILL paying back the support he piled up before the government finally caught him), I think this bill is totally bogus. I don't have a problem with a percentage of their winnings being extracted to pay their debts, but to set benchmarks like this is ridiculous. What's the point? Why not just take every single penny of the winnings, especially if they owe more than what the winnings are? Unless the person hits a jackpot, the logical thing to do would be to play until they get close to the $1200 and $600 limits, then quit. They have that much more money in their pocket, and the whole point of the bill has been circumvented. It's so ridiculously easy to get around an eighth-grader could figure it out.
Judd is clueless, and this bill is the very definition of the socialist ignorance of human nature. If these parents have figured out a way to get out of paying thousands of dollars in child support, they will find a way to get around paying on their winnings.
""When a guy goes up there and gambles, the money he puts in that slot machine is his kid's money," said Rep. Joel Judd"
I'd be more interested in a legislator reforming a child-support system that tends to punish parents for not being awarded custody by a judge and an equitable system of support being established. The way things are set up now is the best argument I can think of for people, men especially, to stay single and never have kids.
May 30, 2008
1:16 p.m.
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karma writes:
dad100percent, I know how screwed up this system is so I can see your side. It does go both ways though. Just recently a large portion of what my sons father owes was completely wiped out of the system. Why? Well, because they screwed up and sent him back the entire amount they had just taken from his tax return. They couldn't explain why when questioned so......screw it, we'll just wipe out the debt!
My son's father is close to 3 years behind, driving a brand new truck, a brand new motorcycle, supporting a stay at home wife and housing her in a new townhome with a nice new big screen TV.
So where's my son's $$? When can I finally go out and buy him a new pair of shoes and still eat lunch every day of the week?
I've seen, first hand, how lenient CSE and the courts are when it comes to collecting child support, hopefully this will be a bit different. I for one am very happy to see a law going into place that might actually recover some of what's due rather than making threats that could put an even larger kink in the situation.
Having his driver's license has never stopped him from driving, if it did then he wouldn't be able to get to work. Threats of jail are BS. Judges can see if they aren't working they can't pay, and they can't work while locked up. Fair to the casinos or not, he loves to gamble and he's too damn stupid to stop until he gets hit the 3rd or 4th time. I should finally be seeing some of what he owes soon.
Nico, I'm sure they do. I'm willing to bet this is aimed at deadbeat "parents", not just fathers. It's just a long known term used because it's more common for the deadbeat half to be the father (and I am in no way saying they all are)
June 22, 2008
8:57 a.m.
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angiet writes:
I do agree with some of what has been said but not all dads that get behind are deadbeats some lose thier jobs or have been hurt in an accident. The judges should look at each case to determine what needs to happen. Putting them in jail only gets them more behind and doesnt help the child at all.
July 1, 2008
7:54 p.m.
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DarthBrooks writes:
"A deadbeat **dad** who wins at a Colorado casino or racetrack with the old gambler's plea, 'Baby needs a new pair of shoes,' will soon have to fork over the cash to his kid."
What's with the sexist stereotypes, Alan? You think there's no such thing as a deadbeat mom?
July 2, 2008
6:58 a.m.
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fathers4equalrights writes:
I am sick and tired of politicians that goes after the deadbeat dads because of our gender. I think from now on the all the laws should focus on deadbeat PARENT, not just deadbeat dad or mom. And those same politicians should do something for our equal rights as single fathers without any form of gender discrimination.
If I win a jackpot lottery, I will never donate any of my winnings to any politicians who won't do something for equal rights for single dads.
I am a single dad and I pay unfairly high level of child support on time every month. Because of the high child support, my child suffers because I can't afford to take her to anywhere such as Elitch's and Water World.
I sincerely hope that none of Rep. Joel Judd's relatives suffer by his gender discrimination-laden law because of his stupidity and lack of his overall intelligence.
Fathers4equalrights
July 2, 2008
8:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
privacy_advocate writes:
Personally I believe that they should screen all people going into casinos... run their IDs against all databases... and if they get "hits" for unpaid parking tickets... state taxes... child support...whatever... have a big machine turn the person upside down and shake until all of the money falls out of their pockets BEFORE the casino gets their hands on it.
Additionally... if someone (deadbeat) who wants to buy a nice house or car gets a loan for it.... they should be screened as well. if they allow the loan the government should seize the asset and the mortgage provider or car loan provider would be out of luck as well.
Too bad we live in America
July 2, 2008
8:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
virgo922 writes:
To Maria Grunt...do you think we would really have children with men (or women) we think will turn out to be deadbeats? Don't be so ignorant! People don't come with guarantees!
July 2, 2008
10:06 a.m.
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rappaport writes:
Another thought: Should Mothers, who are the custodial parent, be "spending money" up at those casinos (or in bars)? Doesn't THEIR money also "belong to their children"? Or is it just the father's money that belongs to the children? The "intent" of child support was that there would be "equity" between the father"s income and the mother's income, when child support was decided, thereby giving the children a "decent" living from BOTH parents, AS WELL AS allowing for both parents to be able to "live", themselves. In Colorado, up to 65% of a man's wages can be garnished for child support. I still believe there are some "constitutional" issues here that need to be looked at, seriously.
July 2, 2008
11:36 a.m.
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freethinker07 writes:
This is a sexist article and should be removed. It starts out "A deadbeat dad who wins at a Colorado casino..." Are there no deadbeat moms?
What is the RMN policy on sexist language?
If women never have to pay child support and all the deadbeat parents are male, isn't that a bigger story?
July 2, 2008
11:53 a.m.
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cmcneil writes:
Colorado NEEDS to change the DEADBEAT DAD TO DEADBEAT PARENTS. IT'S NOT ONLY MEN IT IS WOMEN TOO!!!!!!!!I AM A STEP PARTENT WHO RASIED 2 STEP KIDS AND THE NATURAL MOTHER HAS NOT GAVE ME A PENNY. SHES A DEADBEAT IN JAIL.....THE KIDS ARE GROWN BUT THERE IS DEADBEAT MOM'S OUT THERE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 2, 2008
4:45 p.m.
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nmw213 writes:
I am still trying to figure out the people on here who have never made a mistake about someone's character before. This is amazing! I wish when I met my dead beat ex that I was able to see the future and could see once I said that I was pregnant he would run and hide.
However, I understand the arguement about dead beat mom's. There are even dead beats who don't owe but collect the child support. I am sorry but I am all for allowing the father to request reciepts of what their money gets spent on. It sickens me to my stomach to see some of these mom's walk around with their nice clothes, hair, and nails while their child is in rags. I am sure if fathers would be allowed to see what the mother spends the money on, their children would look better than they do now.
Momof5, move to PA! I just had to fight off the judge to keep my DBD out of jail so he can pay. He only owes $1600! PA has found men in Cairo pulling a Hussein that owe as much as your ex does. Maybe I have a special judge but when he found out that my DBD has a new car ($250 payment) and is not paying his $232 he litterally almost threw the book at him!
July 2, 2008
5:11 p.m.
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wow writes:
Child support enforcement is a joke without the funny bit. The Family Support Registry employees have two states of existence; they either don't know what's going on, and cannot find out, or they do know what's going on and are not allowed to tell you.
In my case the ex's arrears were wiped clean by a mystery payment back in March that I can maybe expect to recieve in October. Don't know where it came from or why it's being held for seven months because they won't tell me. Meanwhile the "ammount owed" keeps jumping from 1,300 to 250, depending on the day.
Getting them to help me was an enormous waste of time.
If I knew then what I know now, I'd have told the ex to keep his money....I'm doing it all on my own and the kids hate him anyway.
July 2, 2008
5:21 p.m.
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BenJefferson writes:
Whenever the government gets involved with personal issues, it creates chaos, inefficency, waste, and injustice. It cannot handle the money we give them to do the job for which they were created, by us, never mind intruding upon the individual's personal life.
People are forgetting, this country was born to free the individual from governmental control.
July 2, 2008
5:28 p.m.
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moebius8 writes:
Frankly stories like this one make me glad i have no dependents. fellas its cheaper to rent a few times a week than buy and have to split your valuta later.
The justice system looks at men as if we are hellspawn bent on destruction anyhow so why give the system another reason to dig in your wallet.
if you were stupid enough to impregnate someone then man up, get a good lawyer and try to protect your assets as much as possible.
me im off to the Philippines for a two week interlude in the fleshpits of Angeles City....
July 2, 2008
11:27 p.m.
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nilla_brown writes:
A deadbeat is a deadbeat, no matter the gender. There are probably more males, but females are catching up, just like the females arrested for domestic violence. The REALLY sad part is that the money is the MINOR part of parenting that the kids miss out on. A child that does not have the emotional support of one of his/her parents is even worse off than the one that doesn't get a check.
November 20, 2008
4:43 p.m.
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decoder writes:
These politicians have no idea what really goes on out here in la la land. I have never met a woman yet that hasn't made a business out of child support and it is a common practice these days. My ex was living it up with her child support with a live in boyfriend that pays her bills living in our home. I found a condemned and abandoned house on a ranch in the middle of winter with rats and a leaky roof. This is where I lived so my children wouldn't have to. The child support was practically more than I was making at my job. I had no money for my own bills I barely made ends meet but only with a hand out from friends. Thirteen years later I sill fight my ex just to be able to talk on the phone with my daughters. My child support is so far behind I can't even see daylight yet today she receives nearly $1000.00 per month just on support that leaves me $500 from my SS. She has owned two houses several new cars and shops till she drops. So when a father better known as a checkbook when divorced goes out and has some social time and gives regardless if it's at church or a casino why is he so bad? Why does his life have to end as a person and she lives on higher times after divorce? Do you idiots really think this child support goes to the kids? I thought so; you’re an idiot! I don't consider myself a deadbeat dad; I consider myself a victim of the American Judicial System. These courts have Special Court Rulings for Ex-wives Unlimited short meaning SCREW-U! And believe me plenty of us have been screwed. Any fathers out there going through a divorce and about to get screwed request family support NOT child support, at least the she will have to pay taxes off of this support and you will be able to write it off the top of your income. These idiot high-income politicians are not exempt from the common practices of family law courts and hopefully it will happen to them. Can you imagine what she could make without him have a few boyfriends live in the family home drive the BMW and still have him pay the mortgage? It really needs to happen to a few maybe starting with Mr. Edwards himself. It's not always infidelity on his part I believe women have caught up but they still get everything including the family dog. Laws need to change and Judges need to get smarter to the female18 year retirement fund vouchers. Sometimes this happens to women not many but the ones that have had this experience, how do you like it? Just pay your dam support and the hell with you, I don't care where you live cardboard box under a bridge who cares. You have no more life, oh dam I forgot you still have that black widow webb you can get a boyfriend to pay it. Just can't win!!