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Is this government of the people, by the people, for the people?

The governor called a “special session” last year to deal with a bill that did not pass the 2016 Legislature. It dealt with international child support enforcement. Sound good? Well, thank goodness, nine members of the House of Representatives asked for more details. They discovered this bill actually allowed international law to supersede state law. If an individual in a foreign country claims child support from an Idaho citizen, that individual automatically has to pay with no questions asked. Therefore, if someone in Idaho is ordered to pay child support, they have no legal recourse; even if the Idaho citizen isn’t legally related to the child.

Yet, these nine members of the house who voted “no” were labeled, “against children!” Nothing is farther from the truth. These legislators were diligently watching our backs. The truth is that Idaho already operates under a child support enforcement agreement that includes all 50 states, and this agreement has not been repealed. However, our Governor twisted arms and this horrendous bill passed.

Presently, both Senate Bill 1067 and the special session version, do not allow Idaho citizens to question the validity of child support of any foreign child support case.

Thank you, Heather Scott, and the other eight members that brought this to the forefront. Now that the 2018 session is about to begin, we are fortunate they continue watching out for us. Don’t be fooled with the darts they throw at Heather Scott. She stands firmly on the side of truth.

CHRIS ANDERSON

Sagle