Dear All;
This great news arrived yesterday. We recently reported on efforts in Arizona to implement a new child support model guideline called COBS which would result in significantly increased child support awards in a number of scenarios. COBS is based on the premise of equalizing discretionary income between the custodial and non-custodial parent. The guideline review process was dominated by the judiciary with very little input from the public. ACFC's affiliate, Arizona Fathers Rights, learned of the effort and went into action to prevent COBS from taking effect. With limited time AZFR was able to initiate a successful campaign to prevent this disaster. The following report from David Hamu tells the story. We would like to point out that this effort was citizen initiated. It happened as a result of concerned parents coming together to prevent an injustice. The outcome demonstrates that when we unite and show up we have a significant impact. As parents and citizens we cannot wait for others to address our issues. If you have not joined one of your local affiliated organizations please do so now. Working together the system can be changed.
From AZFR leader David Hamu.
Friends:
I want to thank all of you who have rallied to the cry to stop COBS from becoming the child support policy in Arizona. This was a very important victory for Fathers and Children and families in general.
We made it known clearly and loudly that we want:
1) Domestic relations policy in Arizona that places the children’s need for maximum time with both parents as the first priority.
2) Domestic Relations and Child Support Policy that is not one size fits all
3) Domestic Relations and Child Support Policy that considers ALL relevant factors
4) Domestic Relations and Child Support Policy that is done transparently with full participation of the people of Arizona.
The court will implement the updated income shares guidelines, which is not a perfect solution either, but hopefully it will be manageable for most. The court has referred COBS to the Legislature and they are going to urge the legislature to adopt it next year (October has been set as a deadline). We have the ability to stop this if we remain united.
What this means is that there is still much work to do. We have an opportunity to reshape the landscape of child support and child custody during the next 12 months. We can make things better for our children and our families, but we need to stick together and make this a priority.
I do not want to try to dictate how we do this. I just know that it is imperative that we continue to work together to ensure that domestic relations policy in Arizona in all forms is designed with the interests of ALL citizen stakeholders. We cannot leave these matters to judges, lawyers and child support enforcement officers. We need to develop our agenda for the next 12 months, and we need to begin lobbying the Legislature so that our concerns are folded into every discussion or debate relating to family law and domestic relations statutes.
I would suggest at minimum the following:
1) Child Support Policy must be returned to the Legislature on a permanent basis
2) Child Custody statutes should promote joint equal custody and should have a presumption of equal parenting time unless there is a preponderance of evidence that equal parenting time would be harmful to the child.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to the many people who contributed their time to this effort. I am certain that I have missed some names and miss-spelled others, but I would like to thank (in alphabetical order by last name):
David Alger
Aaron Barnes
Harold Brister
Sheila Clemons
Terry Decker
Jeff Deiley
Karen Duckworth
Mike Espinoza
Richard Franco
Timothy Frank
Vic Martinez
Mike McCormick
Brent Miller
Bray Pike
Crystal Stapley
Ed Stokes
Kevin Wasson
Damian White
Jarrett Williams
I have relied on each of you for your input as we have waged this battle. I am thankful for your friendship and your encouragement reminding me that we were fighting the good fight. I have relied on several of you for assistance with the ASPFL web site and I am particularly appreciative of Bray Pike and David Alger for their efforts to provide us with a professional quality website on a shoe-string budget.
I am particularly thankful for the tireless work by Karen Duckworth in organizing our rally and leading the charge every day. I am simply amazed at the tireless number-crunching by Jeff Deiley and the relentless flag-bearing of Brent Miller as to the Cloak of Secrecy by the GRC and the Interim Committee. I am thankful for the generous time shared by Mike McCormick from ACFC and for his wise counsel and encouragement. I am indebted to Tim Frank and Mike Espinoza for spending countless hours on the phone with me to help me to sharpen my battle sword. I am amazed at the contributions of Jarrett Williams and Damian White who with so little experience in policy matters have found ways to impact this and have put their heart and souls into making sure that people around the state and in government paid attention to us.
I also want to thank Richard Franco. Richard you have done more than you know to light a fire under me in regard to domestic relations and child custody policy. You have made a difference!
Finally, I want to thank my friend Kevin Wasson. Kevin had everything to gain by seeing COBS implemented. It would have benefited him substantially, but he knows that COBS is wrong and he has got the word out about COBS at every turn. If you don’t know about Kevin’s commitment to this effort and the instrumental role that he has played, just ask him to send you pictures of his van.
I have reached out again to impose upon Karen Duckworth to arrange a celebration event for each of us and for our families. So stay tuned for details.
Sincerely,
Dave Hamu
Acting Director of Arizonans for Sensible Policy in Family Law
Chairman of the Board, Arizona Fathers’ Rights
Congratulations to our dedicated members, parents, friends and supporters in Arizona. ACFC affiliates are making a difference in states around the nation. Your financial support of these and other efforts is always appreciated. What's being done in Arizona is happening in other states as well. Please click here to help support these efforts. Become involved!
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Mike McCormick
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