We did a good job of working with legislators across the state and
though we weren't successful in all areas we did make some
progress. Special thanks to Aubrey El for being there almost
every day, Mike McMahan, Archer Crebbs, Fred Hawkins and Rob Ingalls
who made several trips, David Levy (and interns) of CRC and Mike
McCormack of ACFC for making trips to Richmond with and providing us
with strong support, Rob Whitfield for excellent research of
the newspapers and journals that pertained to our issues, Joe
Findaro for providing us access to several legislators and numerous
others who were able to make at least one trip to Richmond send
letters or make calls. If I left anybody out sorry it's not
intentional. Here were our major accomplishments for
this 2004 legislative session.
1. We stopped a child support increase. Thanks to everybody who
contributed money for Dr. Rogers testimony.
1. We stopped a child support increase. Thanks to everybody who
contributed money for Dr. Rogers testimony.
2. We killed a provision which would have added
the Primary Care Giver as one of the factors in the best interests
of the child
3. The interest rate for child support arrears
was lowered from 9% to 6%. Thanks Aubrey
4. We helped to pass a child support bill that
takes in better account of taxes, does not penalize child support
payers in arrears when taking on a second job, and more fairly
accounts for extraordinary medical expenses. Thanks to Murray
Steinberg for getting these items included in the triennial review.
5. Several bills were pushed into next year
including, 120 day child
custody minimum, a child support bill that prorates for each day of child custody (passed the senate), a visitation enforcement bill that would include jail time for a first time offense( passed house). A bill that would have allowed for retroactive child support reductions in the case of fraud (passed house). We will follow up on all these bills next year and see what modifications we need to get them to pass.
custody minimum, a child support bill that prorates for each day of child custody (passed the senate), a visitation enforcement bill that would include jail time for a first time offense( passed house). A bill that would have allowed for retroactive child support reductions in the case of fraud (passed house). We will follow up on all these bills next year and see what modifications we need to get them to pass.
6. Both national shared parenting
organizations, CRC and ACFC made trips to Richmond with us and both
organizations support us and will continue to help us. We had the
Concerned Women for America and the Family Foundations helping us on
a bill that gives each parent 120 days. We helped with a number of
campaigns and this has created some good will from several
candidates. These are all relationships that will continue to help
us.
7. Opened up the Northern Virginia Judicial
confirmation hearing to the public. Thanks Rob Whitfield, John
Hanyok and Ron Fischer.
8. The big area of disappointment was domestic
violence law and increasing the incentive for misuse in custody
battles. We are clearly playing defense here. The only
silver lining is that some legislators are starting to realize their
potential for misuse and may be willing to sponsor some legislation
next session.
Ron Grignol, president
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Copyright © 2004 FathersForVirginia.org |
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