Join "Child Support Pays" veto override petition drive

House Bill (H.B.) 1232, called "Child Support Pays," would allow working parents receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare) to keep two-thirds of child support collected by the State on behalf of their children. Under current state policy, these families are allowed to keep only a $50 "pass-through" per month, no matter how much the State collects from the estranged parent. H.B. 1232 passed both the House and Senate of the Illinois General Assembly last spring. Gov. George Ryan vetoed H.B. 1232 because estimates showed that the State would keep $6 million less if more child support were returned to the families. The General Assembly will have an opportunity to override the HB 1232 veto when it reconvenes on November 16.

"Last year $88 million was collected on behalf of children receiving welfare, but the families received only $8.8 million—a mere 10 percent of the total. The state and federal governments kept 90 cents of every dollar in child support collected. By helping low-income working families keep a larger portion of child support payments, H.B. 1232 demonstrates the State’s commitment to helping families become self-sufficient in this era of welfare reform," said Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Chicago), chief sponsor of the legislation.

Cosponsor Rep. Eileen Lyons (R-LaGrange) remarked, "A parent who receives child support becomes less dependent on welfare payments. H.B. 1232 will allow working custodial parents on welfare to move from welfare more quickly. It will also create incentives for more moms and dads to participate in the state’s child support program. It’s a $6 million investment in the short run but will be much more economical in the long run."

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Chicago), chief sponsor of the legislation in the Illinois Senate, added, "Before this law, we were creating a disincentive for dads to do the right thing. When parents are willing to face up to their responsibilities, money goes right to their children, not to the bureaucrats."

You can help override Governor Ryan’s veto.

Following is a petition that urges the General Assembly to vote in favor of H.B. 1232. Please print and copy the petition, distribute it widely, and get your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to sign the petition. Then mail, by November 10, the signed petitions to Paula Corrigan Halpern, Metropolitan Family Services, 14 E. Jackson Blvd., 14th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604.

If you have any questions about H.B. 1232 or the petitions, contact the National Center on Poverty Law, 312.263.3830 ext. 234 (Margaret Stapleton) or ext. 238 (Wendy Pollack).

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STATE OF ILLINOIS PETITION

PETITION TO FUND CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAMS

We urge the Illinois General Assembly to override Illinois Gov. George Ryan’s veto of House Bill 1232. This legislation will increase child support payments for families trying to leave welfare and let children see that both their parents are supporting them.

Name	Street address	City, State, Zip

 

Please return signed petitions by November 10, 1999, to Paula Corrigan Halpern, Metropolitan Family Services, 14 E. Jackson Blvd., 14th Floor, Chicago IL 60604.