THE LEDGER-STAR
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 27, 1995 TAG: 9502270200
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RON FOURNIER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Pledging to make the government a model employer, President Clinton says he is making it easier to track down federal workers who dodge their child support payments.
He was signing an executive order today targeting the 105,000 federal employees who are considered deadbeats, either because they skip out on child support or avoid efforts to establish their paternity.
The main aim of the order will be to seek improved communication between states and the federal government. Too many violators slip through the cracks between jurisdictions, officials said.
Clinton, whose welfare reform package includes a broad crackdown on deadbeat parents, has long felt that government gets saddled with the cost of supporting families of people who dodge their obligations.
The Internal Revenue Service now garnishees tax refunds of deadbeat parents identified by states. Clinton's executive order will require agencies to cross-check the state lists annually against payroll or personnel files to identify federal workers.
KEYWORDS: CHILD SUPPORT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES by CNB