Proposed legislation that would deduct child-support payments from paychecks has some divorced fathers feeling lawmakers are biased against men.
The proposal, however, has the support of advocacy groups and the federal government, which supports mandatory deductions but has released no guidelines."We think they (Congress) intended the collection of child support to be automatic and immediate," said Shirley Weathers of Utah Issues, an advocacy group for the poor.
Clark Layton, a divorced father of four, praised lawmakers for dealing with those who don't provide for their children. But the effort also perpetuates the stereotype of the runaway father.
"I listened to the talk about `going after his money,' `tracking down these guys' and `costs to the woman,"' he said. "I detected a great deal of gender bias."
Layton urged the committee to consider that a high percentage of divorced men lose their jobs and pay child support based on income levels that are no longer operative.
He said he has had to borrow money to live, but he always paid the child support.
Rep. Irby N. Arrington, R-Salt Lake, said the proposal is not aimed at those who pay child support. But the committee chairman said he had never heard of a woman stopping her legislator to say "my ex-husband is paying his child support."