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Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2003 9:19 PM
Subject: SB1192 - Thank you
Dear Honorable Senate Courts of Justice
Committee Members,
I wish to thank you for your support and
acceptance of SB1192 which corrects a math error in shared custody child
support. By doing so, you are recognizing fairly the role and expenses the
non-custodial parent has in sharing in the raising of the children. It also
encourages more father participation instead of discouraging as the current
law does.
As a divorced father who has been in this
divorce and child support nightmare my entire life, I encourage you to continue
to be family-friendly, making laws equitable for both parents, to remove
the barriers fathers face every day in trying to remain an important part
of their children's lives and not just delegated to being a paycheck.
From my own childhood in a broken family
to the present situation of being a divorced father, I am firmly convinced
that children need both parents equally, and that both parents have the
responsibility to provide for their children: financially, emotionally,
physically. Balance with both parents is so crucial to their development.
Thank you again for your support of SB1192
and for taking Virginia one step closer to a family-friendly environment
that encourages instead of discourages father participation with their children.
I encourage you to support changes to laws that make family first, encourages
parents to stay together, and if unable, that encourages an equal 50/50
participation of both parents in raising their children. Current laws right
now give too much incentive to divorce, especially for the mother. It is
time for this trend to be reversed. "For the best interests of the child"
should be family first.
Sincerely,
Robert W. Ingalls, Lt Col, USAF (retired)