Dads of Michigan News

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DADS and MOMS of Michigan PAC eNews!
January 2010
Email: dadspac@dadsofmichigan.org
This is an election year. Change is good and we need a lot of it. The Democrats are in control and many have been our supporters.. There are many Democrats and Republicans that support the issues. Our issues are not about what political party you support, it is about what is right for families. The greatest thing to do is talk to your candidates in your District, and you do not have to go to Lansing. If you can not reach them, call and talk to the Chief of Staff in their office. Take with you or send a DADS and MOMS of Michigan brochure with you.
We will be generating a candidate list this year. Please submit your recommendations.
http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/pacnews.html and look at Contact Directors in the top toolbar.

Shared Parenting Survey
Detroit News Shared Parenting Survey – take the 1 question survey http://info.detnews.com/redesign/forums/feedback/lettersindex.cfm?topic=Parenting&forum=newstalk


KEY LEGISLATION

• HB 5114 is a “shared parenting” http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/shared_parenting.html bill which will amend current law so that a written custody agreement by both parents will be presumed to be in everyone’s best interests. It is the successor of HB 4564 In cases where parents cannot write a custody agreement, the court will establish one, based on the presumption of the right of both parents to joint physical and legal custody of minor children. This presumption may be rebutted if there is clear and convincing evidence that one parent is “unfit, unwilling or unable” to handle their parental responsibilities. Passage of HB 5114 will make the presumption of shared custody the rule rather than the exception in Michigan, allowing both parents to retain physical custody of their children for “alternating and substantially equal” periods of time. We are currently working with key stakeholder groups and legislative leaders to garner additional support for this bill.

Current sponsors include: Brian Calley, Kevin Green, Jeoff Hansen, David Agema, Tom McMillin, Tom Pearce, Ken Kurtz, Rick Jones, Marty Knollenberg, Robert Dean, Mike Huckleberry, Richard LaBlanc, Ken Horn, Bill Rogers
The following is a list of representatives serving on the House Judiciary Committee. This is a key committee that will likely determine the fate of this proposal.

Reps. Meadows (C), Lipton (Maj. VC), Lisa Brown, Constan, Corriveau, Coulouris, Kandrevas, Bettie Cook Scott, Warren, Schuitmaker (Min. VC), Amash, Haveman, Rick Jones, Kowall, Rocca

Testimony In Support of Shared Parenting
HB 5114 is the substitute for HB 4564

Dr. Mike Ross
Family Rights Coalition
http://frcmi.org/

Dr. Mike Ross HB4564 Testimony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBYxuuCfu88

Murray Davis
National Family Justice Association
http://www.nfja.org/

Murray Davis HB4564 Testimony (1 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYucJucXY6o

Murr ay Davis HB4564 Testimony (2 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCtVfCq22_s

Rev. Ronald Smith, MSW
Children Need Both Parents, Inc.
http://cnbpinc.org/
http://cnbpinc.ning.com

Rev. Ronald Smith HB4564 Testimony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONn6FpgkK50

Derek Bailey, MSW
Enrolled Member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Dance4Equality
http://www.dance4equality.com

Derek Bailey HB4564 Testimony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ohy-kAQWVY
Attorney Bill Reisdorf
http://www.dadsofmichigan.org
Reisdorf Legal
http://www.reisdorflegal.com/

Bill Reisdorf HB4564 Testimony (1 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLtK15EkImo

Bill Reisdorf HB4564 Testimony (1 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt6Kk5VZ9d4
Dave Taylor
Family Rights Coalition
http://frcmi.org/
Member Oakland County FOC Advisory Committee

Dave Taylor HB4564 Testimony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_CbO_t6PHo
There were 80 initial sponsors on HJR NN not HB 4564. You can read the sponsor list and text of the legislative measures here:

HJR NN
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2008-HJR-NN
Jim Semerad
Dads and Moms of Michigan PAC
http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/

Jim Semerad HB4564 Testimony
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cQ01VwGwaL0
HB 4564
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2007-HB-4564

FIND YOU’RE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
We suggest when contacting your representatives that you not only email them. Instead, call their offices on the telephone. You'll speak to a real person, and have much more impact. These people are there to serve you. It is their job to talk to you and to listen carefully to your concerns.
http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp
http://senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE
Thank you very much for your vote for parents, and family.
Dads and Moms struggle unsuccessfully with courts to be involved in their children’s school and sports activities and with their lives. Seventy percent in Detroit and one third of Michigan children have only one parent. Look at the social consequences, to children that loose parents, and parents that loose their children. We do not support involvement with unfit parents, but even unfit parents can become good parents when given a chance.
1. Request a modification of the Parenting Time Guidelines published by DHS.
2. Initiate a Referendum that stipulates that State or Federal funded educational institutions comply with:

Title 20, Chapter 31, Subchapter II, Part 4, § 1232g.
Family educational and privacy rights
I have asked my family and friends to write and vote on this important issue.
Sincerely,
CONTACT THE MEDIA
Just like the advice above, it is better to write or call individual editors and reporters. Tell them what is on your mind. Suggest story ideas to them. Tell them how family law is destroying your life, or the lives of you family. They are always looking for a fresh take on an issue. Give it to them! Follow the procedures listed in the notes for contacting elected officials above.
http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/contact_directories.html#media
PAC Action: We need your financial support. With many of the pending bills reaching a critical stage, DADS of Michigan PAC plans to engage a lobbyist to further these issues. This is not free and we need you to make a monthly financial commitment of $10, $15, $25, $50, $100, $500, $1000 per month for the next year. We can process these via credit card each month. Please call our hotline at 248-559-3237 today to make your pledge or email dadspac@dadsofmichigan.org.
"...because the best parent is both parents"