Missouri governor hopeful Hulshof touts child support plan

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Kenny Hulshof says he supports the creation of regional child support enforcement units.

Hulshof on Friday cited efforts by Greene County prosecutor Darrell Moore to start a multi-county child support enforcement unit. If it works, Hulshof said similar efforts in other areas could help improve child support collections.

Hulshof said federal figures rank Missouri 25th in the nation in child support enforcement. He say Missouri children benefit from just 21 cents of every dollar they are owed in child support.

Hulshof said he also wants to use $7.5 million of existing social services money for programs that strengthen marriages among low-income Missourians.