Equal Parental Rights: MN: Shared Parenting Legislation on Govs Desk

Shared Parenting Teeters in the Balance

Ned Holstein

Here is your chance to stand tall and grab a big victory for the shared parenting movement. But it is imperative that you act immediately.

Everything you need to know follows.

Background:
Both the Minnesota State Senate and Minnesota House have passed bills requiring that each parent get a minimum of 35% of the parenting time—including during temporary orders. Any of you who have been through the custody process knows that temporary orders are crucial—months to years later, they have a way of turning into permanent orders.

Now the bill known as HF322 sits on Governor Mark Dayton’s desk, awaiting his signature. As always, special-interests are working to persuade the Governor to veto the bill.

Here’s where you come in: it is important for you to do these three things immediately:

Telephone Governor Dayton’s office at (651) 201-3400 and politely request that he sign HF322.
Email the Governor’s office at http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/ Send a copy of your message to me at nedholstein@fathersandfamilies.org. I will forward them all to Molly Olson (see below).
Get two other residents of Minnesota to do as you have done, one of whom should be a woman. Family, friends, church acquaintances, colleagues at work—anybody who believes in gender equality and in best interests of children.

Molly Olson

Molly Olson and her husband created the Center for Parental Responsibility (CPR) in Minnesota, and have been tireless advocates for shared parenting for a dozen years. Late night meetings, endless meetings at the Statehouse, giving up income opportunities, tens of thousands of telephone calls, training volunteers, putting personal money into the movement… all this and more.

So do this as a sign of respect for Molly. She has earned it.

A telephone call is more effective than an email. Please pick up the phone and make the call. Don’t worry about having to disclose private information, angering anybody, or being an expert—none of those things will matter. Just talk nicely and urge the Governor to sign HF322. It is a numbers game.

Ordinary citizens support shared parenting by a huge margin. Only a few small special interests oppose it. But the special interests always win if citizens don’t act!

If you have any questions about this process, feel free to telephone me at (617) 542-9300 extension 1. I will be pleased to speak with you about this important Minnesota legislation and how we are making changes in other states.

If you want more detail, you will find a great story by Fathers and Families’ Robert Franklin, Esq. at http://www.fathersandfamilies.org/2012/05/10/victory-in- minnesota/.

Together with you in the love of our children,
Ned Holstein, MD, MS
Founder and Chair of the Board, Fathers and Families