A Chicago judge today ordered U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., to explain why he's $100,000 behind in his child support payments.

Walsh, a Tea Party favorite, was not in the courtroom when Cook County Circuit Judge Raul Vega issued his ruling. When Vega asked why Walsh wasn't present, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that his lawyer responded, "Mr. Walsh is a U.S. congressman."

"Well, he's no different than anyone else," Vega is quoted as saying.

Walsh, a freshman lawmaker elected in November, and his ex-wife, Laura, have been embroiled in this child-support dispute for years. The dispute made national headlines after a Sun-Times report came out as Congress and the White House were negotiating an increase to the debt limit.

Janet Boyle, Walsh's lawyer, told the Chicago Tribune that Vega's ruling is a "legal technicality." She said Walsh will file papers soon that "will set forth quite clearly what his position on all of this is."