Sep 27, 2007

Wet weather couldn't stop thirty protestors from fighting for parents' rights at the State Capitol. The protestors gathered on the front lawn. Many of them told stories of losing their visitation rights after child support struggles. Some parents feel they deserve equal access.

Ronald Smith, fathers' rights advocate: "Who figured that if we jail a non-custodial parent for falling behind on child support, that it makes it easier to collect?"

Ronald Smith is CEO of Children Need Both Parents, one of several parental watch groups who put on the rally.

Ronald Smith: "Child support is tucking kids in bed at night, child support is going to the beach, it's fixing breakfast for your kids."

Parents feel cheated by a family court system intended to protect children, but Chet Merda says the system is hurting them.

Chet Merda: "I lost parenting time through the Friend of the Court."

Three years ago, Merta got custody of his two children every other weekend, plus one day during the week, but he gave that up when he lost his job in order to find new work.

Chet Merda: "I gave up my weekday parenting time to support my kids; not to be a deadbeat father."n

Now that he has a new job, Merda is trying to get that extra day back. He says he's been trying for three years. Most of the ralliers are fathers holding up signs and giving speeches about how they feel cheated by the system. Carol Rhodes was part of that system for fifteen years. She worked as an enforcement officer for the family court in Calhoun Country. Rhodes says the system is broken for one main reason- the more money the state spends on child support, the more money the federal government gives the state.

Carol Rhodes, 37th Circuit Family Court: "That dollar that goes to the child or to the child's caretaker, that dollar is matched by federal, state and local funding."

The protestors say they've spent too much money trying to see their kids and that it's time for their voices to be heard. Many of the protestors say the family court system is biased against fathers. The house bill that could result in equal access for parents is still being worked on in committee. There is no timetable for bringing it to the floor.
http://www.achildsright.net/

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