CPR Center for Parental Responsibility

WEEKLY UPDATE (A Few Highlights): Friday October 17, 2003

                                                           

This Week’s Update at a Glance/Summary

1)      IV-D Challenge Rages on! Get on the bandwagon! Understand how IV-D applies to you!

2)      Media Update: Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Cable Documentary, Radio Programs, Great articles by Baskerville (links available)

3)      Upcoming Meetings and Events – General CPR Meeting THIS Sunday Night 10/19

4)      CPR Members: Individual Case Victories! (there is hope if we keep challenging)

 

(see details below)

 

 

IV-D (Child Support Collections and Enforcement) Challenge

·       IV-D Government services provided solely and only to the mother is why you feel like your rights are being trampled on – because they are!

·       July-August-September Legislative Education Notices (“LEN”) are complete, and October will soon be available (probably at Sunday nights meeting). People always want to know “how can I get involved.” Change in family law will not occur until you get involved and convince your legislators that current laws are negatively impacting fathers, which negatively impacts children. These letters continue to elicit support from legislators, but we need your help.

·       You can OPT OUT of the program with a 1301 d exception objection letter – that letter continues to be updated. A CPR research aid has produced a wealth of new information to back up this valid option to protect your rights as a parent. Much additional research has been located reinforcing the validity of the 1301 d objection, which will finally renew your constitutionally protected voice in the process.

·       A lot more progress with IV-D challenge: more attorney’s, judges, and other state and federal government support.

 

 

For the Activist - Your ACTION ITEM: We ask that YOU make two copies of each LED and send to YOUR two legislators. To find out who your senator and your representative is in your local area, call 651/296-2146, where you can also obtain the address. It is SIMPLE and QUICK, and only will cost you two postage stamps, but it makes a big difference towards family law reform. Soon the letters will be available on the internet, until then, email request for copies to info@cpr-mn.org. Contact CPR how to File a 1301 d Exception objection.

 

Media Update: : Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Cable Documentary, Radio Programs Great articles by Baskerville (links available)

Newspapers: Star Tribune and Pioneer Press have been willing to talk with us and hear the stories from the fathers perspective. It remains to be seen if they will have the guts to print anything.

3 Cable TV Shows in the Works: CPR contact is developing a cable documentary. We’d like your story on tape. If you are interested, begin by writing your story.

Radio Programs: Dr David Sutton will be sharing his story on kdwa.com (AM 1460 in Hastings) on Thursday October 23, 2003 from 11am-12noon. Call afterwards for a tape copy.

NEW Baskerville Articles: Professor at Howard University, one of the most intellectual authors on the subject of bias against dads in the child support system.

The original  article that provoked the exchange is: The Politics of  Fatherhood
http://www.apsanet.org/PS/dec02/baskerville.cfm
A rebuttal by a DHS consultant: Revisiting 'The  Politics of Fatherhood': Administrative Agencies, Family Life, and Public  Policy  
http://www.apsanet.org/PS/oct03/beld.pdf
A response by Baskerville confirming the true situation: The Politics of Child  Support
 http://www.apsanet.org/PS/oct03/baskerville.pdf

 
 
 
For the Activist - Your ACTION ITEM: Educate yourself, learn to articulate the problem, and write letters to the editors on fathers issues as much as you can – even if you don’t get printed, you are making a difference. If you are willing to tell your story on cable TV, contact info@cpr-mn.org

 

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  1. NEXT CPR GENERAL MEETING: Third Sunday of the Month. October 19, 2003, from 5pm-8pm at William Mitchell College of Law. Guest Speaker will be an attorney, talking about pro se, visitation, and custody issues. The building is on the corner of Victoria and Summit – lots of free parking available on the street. Use the entrance where the flagpole is and you will then be directed to the #230 meeting room. Schedule:
    1. 5-5:20 registration and find a seat (room can be crowded)
    2. 5:20-5:30 opening and announcements
    3. 5:30-6 Guest Speaker: Attorney Rod Hale
    4. 6-7 Update on Issues impacting non custodial parents
    5. 7-8 (optional) IV-d #102 class (the root of the problem)
  2. CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINE HEARING: Tuesday October 28, 2003, from 10am – 12/1pm. 175 State Office Bldg – basement meeting room (across from the Capitol). THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARING IS TO DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS OF HF 664 (The Cost Shares Guideline bill). If you are interested in testifying, email Diane Anderson at gma@pro-ns.net. We encourage you to attend to observe and start to learn what the legislative hearing process is all about. To testify, you must also call ahead of time to get on the list and ask “to testify on child support guideline issues,” by calling Committee Legislative Assistant, David Anderson, at (651) 296-4178 or Dennis Virdin at (651) 296-6860.  Know the bills.
    1. The proposed “Smith Bill” (Omnibus Bill HF 778 – originally HF110) will make your child support issues far worse. Educate yourself by getting a copy of the 150+ page bill. Find it on the internet at house.leg.state.mn.us or call House 651/296-2314. This bill has already passed in the house. No further legislative action required.
    2. The companion to the “Smith Bill” in the Senate is omnibus bill SF 758 (originally SF751). Find it on the internet or call  651/296-2344. Our only hope to stop this bill is with Senator Tom Neuville.
    3. The cost share bill, which produces the most economically sound “cost” tables and most economically sound financial implications on the family is SF600/HF 664. Get a copy.
  3. FREE 30 MINUTES WITH AN ATTORNEY. Unique opportunity! Don’t miss this! Mini-Law clinic available, only for a few more weeks. Email info@cpr-mn.org if you are interested in a few 30 minutes with attorney. Provide your phone number to info@cpr-mn.org, and the attorney (Roxanne) will call you back to arrange a specific time convenient for both of you. This is the LAST CHANCE.

 

 

For the Activist - Your ACTION ITEM: We ask YOU to attend as many different meetings as you find interesting. Information is power. The more you know, the more empowered you will be to make a difference.

 

 

CPR Member Success: Non-Custodial Parent’s Individual Victories

·       Non-custodial dad, M.B., represented himself pro se and WON his motion to dismiss a charge of driving after suspension of drivers license, (all charges dissmissed) due to child support arrears. Ramsey County District Court Judge (Gearin) went along with the counrty attorney who seemed to understand how counter-productive it is to take away the drivers license for the very debt you need your drivers license to pay and because the bigger suit is pending in Hennepin.

·      Non-custodial dad, M.B., representing himself pro se and in spite of the State's motion to dismiss, has achieved court scheduling.  This is a big WIN, as these are routinely dismissed pre scheduling.  The Lawsuit in Minnesota State Court is brought against the State and County agency for the overreach of authority. This is a suit based purely on the law and its application and is NOT in family court.

·       Non-custodial dad, M.B, representing himself pro se filed a lawsuit in Federal Court – he is suing on grounds that the child support statute Chapter 518 (and all the ramifications of enforcement) are UNCONSTITUTIONAL, on multiple grounds and as applied in non needy/non welfare cases. Case was dismissed based on the Defendant's (State of MN) claim of State Sovereign immunity and MB has filed an appeal with US Federal District Court of Appeals (“COA”). MB’s appeal is available on line courtesy of the COA for the 8th - case # 03-3017. http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/tmp/033017.html

·       Non-custodial dad, M.B., represented himself pro se and WON his motion to dismiss a charge of driving after suspension of drivers license, due to child support arrears. Hennepin County District Court Judge seemed to understand how counter-productive it is to take away the drivers license for the very debt you need your drivers license to pay.

·       Non-custodial dad, M.B., represented himself pro se and WON the first motion on dismiss on two lawsuits: One lawsuit in Minnesota State Court and the other lawsuit in Federal Court – he is suing on grounds that the child support statute Chapter 518 (and all the ramifications of enforcement) are UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

·       Non-custodial dad, C.H., with the assistance of fiancée, K.Z., represented themselves pro se and filed an appeal with the MN Court of Appeals, to argue the county had no statutory grounds to label him voluntarily underemployed and impute his income, prohibiting him from going to school to improve himself and increase his earning potential.

·       Non-custodial dad, D.S., represented himself pro se and filed an appeal with the MN Court of Appeals to argue, among many other things, no divorce should cost $250,000, and $94,000 should be enough child support over a 3 year period. He is fighting an order for $5500 a month in child support and spousal maintenance; because he was ordered to pay more than he makes every month, and has been threatened with jail as a result.

·       Non-custodial dad, J.J. represented by attorney Mike Nygaard, turned in his final response to the MN Court of Appeals, hoping to regain custody of his son who has been taken three hours away by his mother and put in an abusive home.

 

 

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL ALONG TO ANY NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT (or anyone else who is concerned for the non-custodial parent and the impact on the fractured family).

WE are EAGER to add the names of all citizens who are EFFECTED OR INTERESTED IN HELPING TO REFORM FAMILY LAW AND ANY NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT NEEDING ASSISTANCE IN THEIR FAMILY LAW CASE.

WE WELCOME YOUR PARTICIPATION AND WE NEED ALL INTERESTED NAMES so AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN we can ORGANIZE AND MOBALIZE (like Martin Luther King Jr did!) to prove to legislators that this issue matters to their constituents, and TO ACHIEVE THE GRASS ROOTS PUSH needed to DRIVE the MUCH NEEDED Family Law REFORM.

You are receiving this email from CPR-MN because you have indicated interest in the group, or have attended a like-function where someone met you and thought you would be interested. If you would like to discontinue receiving these emails, please reply with "unsubscribe" in the email subject and your name will be removed from our list immediately. CPR-MN holds their membership information as very private information and will only use information for internal and informational purposes.