CHICAGO – Former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh wants to stop making child support payments because he is unemployed.

Walsh insisted throughout his failed bid for re-election that he wasn't a "deadbeat dad" as asserted by opponents. However, according to his ex-wife's attorney, Walsh skipped the $2,134 support payment owed in January.

Lawyer Jack Coldarci told the Chicago Sun-Times that Walsh on Feb. 1 filed his request in Cook County Circuit Court to terminate his child support obligation.

The filing states Walsh's employment was "terminated through no voluntary act of his own" and he is without sufficient income or assets with which to continue to pay. Walsh of McHenry was paying for one child.

Walsh, a conservative Republican, was defeated in November by Democrat Tammy Duckworth in the newly redrawn 8th District.