One of the most uncompromising members of the Republican tea party,
Congressman Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), has a personal problem he'd rather not
discuss in public: his ex-wife is suing him for over $117,000 in
unpaid child support.

While Walsh's lawyer denied that he owes anything near that amount
thanks to a stint of unemployment before his surprising election to
Congress, Laura Walsh's lawsuit pointed to a $35,000 loan he
personally gave to his campaign, claiming that if he had enough for
that, he had enough to help support their 9-year-old child.

“Joe has paid himself back at least $14,200 for the loans he gave
himself," Laura's attorney wrote, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

She also asked a judge to revoke his driver's license until he starts
making payments. In prior attempts to have him pay-up, she's even gone
so far as to ask a judge to garnish his wages.

The couple divorced in 2002.

Members of Congress earn $174,000-a-year (PDF), placing them in the
top 5 percent of salaried U.S. workers. Combined with their full
health benefits, members of the House are compensated at a rate about
3.5 times higher than the average American.