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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Case Against Dad Affects His Workers Action In Child Support Case Leaves Tavern Workers In Limbo

Associated Press

Joann Macken says the state’s effort to force her boss to pay overdue child support by suspending his liquor license could backfire: She’s worried she might have to sign up for welfare if his tavern closed.

“They’re talking about getting people off state assistance, but they’re not going to do that this way,” Macken said Wednesday.

Macken and another employee of Porter’s Place tavern in the tiny Grant County town of Warden said their livelihood was left in limbo, at least temporarily, after the state suspended Bill Porter’s liquor license Monday night because he hasn’t paid child support in 11 years.

Porter, who reportedly owes nearly $40,000, met with state officials later Wednesday and may be on the verge of getting his license reinstated if he agrees to a payment plan.

But the state’s action - it was the first use of authority under the new welfare law to suspend licenses of people who are at least six months behind in child support payments - gave some credence to critics’ arguments that people like Macken could get hurt.

“Clearly, innocent people - third parties - did get hurt,” said Rep. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood.

Macken, a 35-year-old single mother of two children who works as a cook and bartender at the tavern, sided with her boss, who said he quit paying child support because his wife would not let him see his son, who’s now 20.

Another cook and bartender, Jeanette Shadwick, believes Porter was wrong to ignore his child support obligation, but she also questioned the state’s heavy-handed enforcement that hurt the tavern’s six employees.

“They should have considered that. I do not think it’s fair at all. Something could have been worked out,” said Shadwick, 48, who’s worked for Porter for 14 years.

But state officials said Porter ignored repeated requests to work something out. And the new law’s chief backers, all the way up to the governor, said the stiff penalty was necessary to get the attention of people like Porter.

State Sen. Alex Deccio, a co-author of the welfare law, expressed sympathy for the innocent workers, but said the tavern owner brought the trouble upon himself.

“I understand where they’re coming from. But this guy violated the law and they ought to look to him to work this thing out,” said Deccio, a Yakima Republican. “This guy is solely responsible for what’s happened to him and his business. He’s had a whole due process to go through and apparently just ignored it.”