Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, disclosed today that computer inquiries on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher were not restricted to a child-support system.
The agency also checked Wurzelbacher in its computer systems to determine whether he was receiving welfare assistance or owed unemployment compensation taxes, she wrote.
Jones-Kelley made the revelations in a letter to Ohio Senate President Bill M. Harris, R-Ashland, who demanded answers on why state officials checked out Wurzelbacher.
Harris called the multiple records checks "questionable" and said he awaits more answers. "It's kind of like Big Brother is looking in your pocket," he said.
Extremely chilling is this quote from Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services:
'"[the] department frequently runs checks for any unpaid child support obligations "when someone is thrust quickly into the public spotlight."
This is troubling for so many reasons. One is that is reveals how haphazardly the ODJFS approaches locating individuals that are behind in their child support payments. A second is the apparent privacy violation.
I can't help but wonder: were similar checks run when Jennifer Brunner, Ohio's Secretary of State, was thrust quickly into the public spotlight due to law suits challenging her one-stop register and vote program.
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