Rebecca Witt (lower right) and Gary Johnson (standing) care for children Diesel (in Gary's arms), 2, JaeLyn (bottom), 4, and Gage, 5.
Looks like they already have quite a few.
Posted on 01/18/2009 6:13:23 PM PST by Lorianne
Gary Johnson was billed $3,800 for the birth of his daughter JaeLyn. Johnson is not married to the child's mother, Rebecca Witt.
The Michigan Legislature amended the state's paternity act five years ago to waive birthing costs for a father, if he married the child's mother. A year later, Witt gave birth to JaeLyn. The state paid for the hospital costs because Witt was on Medicaid at the time and is now trying to recover the money.
Jack Battles, the Genesee County Friend of the Court, said the law is an incentive to maintain the sanctity of marriage.
"It's totally up to them," said Battles, whose office enforces paternity rulings, child support and other aspects of family law. Until Johnson can produce a marriage license, "they have to pay."
Johnson and Witt said they want to marry eventually, but Witt said she wants her marriage date to be her choice. "I don't think anybody should tell me when to get married," said Witt. "I would like to have a nice wedding, and I can wait for it."
Witt and Johnson said they have been struggling since the state started coming after Johnson for the hospital costs. Johnson said he was told he would be billed $500 a month and planned to meet with a caseworker to work out a solution.
"Losing just $10 hurts us," said Johnson, who makes $8 an hour at a Grand Blanc-area nursery. "We don't have a car, we don't even have an oven." Johnson said he understood the state wants to promote marriage for parents but he respects Witt's position. "It's a woman's dream to have the best wedding she can have," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abclocal.go.com ...
There’s an abortion incentive lurking in there somewhere.
I wish my parents had gotten divorced earlier.
Too bad mister. Either pay the bill or marry the girl. No one forced you to have a baby before marriage. Fool.
I just bought a stove for $20 on craigslist..that’s only 2.5 hours of labor for babydaddy...
Then pay your own damned way, don't ask others to do it.
The father is ordered to pay $3800, and a government person said “they have to pay”, but I didn’t see where they said the mother paid/had to pay anything. Did I miss that?
there needs to be incentives to not have an abortion.
But we gots us a kid!
Hey dimWitt, nobody's telling you when to get married - just pay the bill!
Probably be in the next Obama spending package.
Some people really shouldn’t have kids...
Once again, the New Year babies shown on the local news were all out-of wedlocks, with the media just gushing over these unwed parents.
None of them, of course, asked how these babies were to be supported. The taxpayers, of course, will support these kids for the next 18 years.
then they should be encouraged to give them up for adoption
- or we
- the taxpayers
pay for the birth.
My vote is for the parents...
Beautiful kids. It’s a shame their parents are so irresponsible. As always, it’s the children who will suffer for the actions of adults.
IF the mom had declined his offer{s} of marriage, His share of the cost should drop.
This Bill should apply to males who are unwilling to wed their “conquests”. It shouldn’t apply as completely to males that have been turned down {yet, slept with}.
Pay it!!! Pay it!!!
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