Letter to Editor: Congressional Candidate Doyle Asks For Child Support Reform

As a Candidate for the 3rd Congressional District I am asking State leaders to consider change.

We must improve the way in which we handle parents who are incarcerated for not paying child support.

At least one study reveals that 35 percent of our county jail populations are men and women who fail to pay child support.

I would like to see an improvement in this process. Currently taxpayers are paying twice for irresponsible parents. We pay to take care of their children and pay to house them in county jails.

I would ask our State legislators to investigate legislation that would send offenders back to school for GEDs or to local technical schools for a trade.

By giving these men and women a trade there should be no excuse for not taking responsibility for their children. I believe providing chance to secure a trade through our local technical schools will instill change and a new direction in them to become responsible parents.

Those who refuse to act or take action to become responsible to their children should be sentenced to hard time within our state prison and not our local county jails. Such a plan would ease the burdens our local counties' and sheriffs' resources.

This entire problem, being nationwide in its scope, might also be worthy of consideration for Federal Legislation or grants to develop a comprehensive program to benefit all Americans.

Sincerely,

Brian "Ryan B" Doyle, candidate for U.S. Congress 3rd Congressional District