#TBT: Bill Clinton Punishes Deadbeat Parents

 

     On June 24th, 1998, Bill Clinton signed the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act, which made it a federal offense punishable by two years in prison (with extensive fines and reparations) for parents to move to a different state to avoid paying child support. This built on a series of actions Clinton took to improve the quality of life for America's children.

     Dealing specifically with child support, on February 27th, 1995, Clinton signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to expand its child support collection programs, doubling collection of child support from $8 billion in 1992 to $16 billion in 2000 and providing much-needed support for families across America.