Washington Shared Parenting

Let everyone you know be aware - Dino Rossi has come straight out of the box and stated that he supports shared parenting!  End of story, a politician that is not afraid to stand up and fight for the rights of children and families.

Listen to Dino Rossi Endorsing Shared Parenting and strengthening families in Washington State

I’ve threatened that I wasn’t going to vote for Governor in 2008, because both candidates have shown that they don’t support fathers from where I sit.  Yesterday, Dino Rossi was a guest on the BJShea show on KISW radio in Seattle.  During the show, I’m told he came out in support of Dads, and non-custodial parents, stating he knew there were issues in Washington’s family courts.

THIS! IS! INCREDIBLE! NEWS!    To think we have the opportunity to actually begin to bring about change in Washington State.  This is almost as good as California’s Courts ruling that California’s DV laws are unconstitutional because they exclude men.  This is even better news that what we heard today about Judge Katherine Stoltz recently throwing out a domestic violence order that was based on false accusations! 

There is hope in Washington State!  Get out there and vote for Dino Rossi, and any other candidate that supports shared parenting in our state!

 Join in on the discussion on our forum - Dino Rossi supports shared parenting  

The Washington Shared Parenting Forum has been on this blog site since it’s beginning.  However, there hasn’t been a lot of attention given to it, and it hadn’t been upgraded much since it’s beginning.  However, today we announce a major upgrade to the Forum, with new templates and themes. 

We hope you take a minute to look at the forum at http://WashingtonSharedParenting.com/smf and create topics that are important to you, or just participate in topics of interest to you.  If you have a topic you think we should add, please let us know at info@WashingtonSharedparenting.com.  Let’s make this a great resource for all non-custodial parents in Washington State and beyond.

Mariah Merle Stevens is a miracle baby in more ways that she will ever know.  It wasn’t but a few days ago that her mother abandoned her in front of a Federal Way, WA church, bundles in a few blankets, but exposed to the cold night for over 5 hours.  It’s a miracle that a member of the church found her, without harm coming to her.

It’s also a miracle that the baby’s grandmother has been given temorary custody of this child, while the Father who did not know about the pregnancy of his ex-girlfriend, let along the birth of his dauther, is deployed to Iraq.  Clark Stevens is home on a three week leave to care for his daughter, until he is deployed to Iraq.

It is unusual for situations like this to end with the Father gaining custody of his child.  It is a miracle that young Mariah may have a great chance to grow up with her natural father.  Mariah Stevens is a lucky girl!  See the video here - http://www.nwcn.com/video/index.html?nvid=289767 

An incredible email was sent by a member of the Child Support Workgroup on Sunday, in which she claims large lobbyist groups are trying to take away the child support from Mothers.  Oh Course it is a lie, a flat out lie.  I have not seen any emails or heard any testimony from anyone asking that Child Support be killed.  Nor has the subject been discussed at the committee meetings.

This member of the Committee has been closed minded about just about every single discussion unless it was about raising the amount of money that a non-custodial parent pays.  No concern for the children, just the bottom line dollar transfer.  Her motives are obvious, her intentions sickening.

It’s time for this member to resign.  Move on with her disgusting behavior and find someone else to torture.  The children of Washington State deserve better, and Governor Gregroire has just proven again that she has worked with DCS too closely to pick representatives on the committee that are representing special interests, and are not qualified to be on the committee.

One has resigned after it was learned her volunteer time was being paid by the courts, in a position that was funded by Washington State Division of Child Support.  Yep, they are getting money to facilitate courts - from a fund from the feds to get fathers and their children back together.  Disgusting.

We had a Commissioner in Pierce County resign after it was discovered she had too much time on her hands - spending most of her day looking at knitting blogs.

 And now we have Kristie Dimak sending out letters that tell lies to the public.  Great Job Kristie!  Children of Washington State will have much to look forward to from your bias and ill behavior.   IN Kristie’s letter, she says feel free to email her with questions - please do - ask her why she is so warped.  Read the letter below ————

To: SeattleSingleMoms@yahoogroups.com
From: kristieshannon@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:30:24 +0000
Subject: Important child support meeting next Saturday 9/27/08
Good Morning,

I am a member of the Child Support Schedule Workgroup appointed by the Governor’s office to review and make recommendations of changes to the legislature regarding the child support guidelines in our state. We have had two public forum meetings so far, and our last is coming up on Saturday the 27th. At our meetings in Spokane and Vancouver we had about a 1 custodial parent show up for every 10 non-custodial parents. It is vitally important that the voice of the custodial parent be heard! There are some big lobbying groups that are attempting to at the worst have child support completely abolished, at the least have it cut back greatly. Please attend this meeting if you can, if you can’t please send an email to our group at SupportSchedule@dshs.wa.gov . Your email will be forwarded to the group at large for consideration.

The meeting next Saturday will take place from 2pm to 4pm at the Seatac Doubletree hotel at

. I would love to see you there! Please forward this message to any other single moms you know, we need lots of support! If you would like to review the work that our group has done so far please visit the website at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/dcs/Resources/workgroup.asp#w6

Feel free to email me with any questions.

-Kristie Dimak

In September, the Washington State Child Support Workgroup will be meeting twice, both time with the goal of soliciting public input.  Thats right - your input to this committee.  Now many will say that child support is different than shared parenting, and I will agree with that argument, part way.

Here is the issue.  Child support advocates are not so much the custodial parents of your children, as it is a State Agency that creates revenue for the State of Washington, the legal profession that makes BILLIONS of dollars each year fighting these customer and support hearings, the Guardian-Ad-Litems that are puppets of the courts, and the very Commissioners of the Courts that receive payments directly from the Division of Child Support!

These same people work to shoot down shared parenting because it cuts into their livelyhood, nevermind the damage it does to society and your children.  The Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section is losing this battle so bad in the child suppport workgroup that they are working on passage of their own law to get child support raise.  In fact, their former leader feels the minimum annual wage for considering Child suppport should be raised from $5,000 per month to $15-20,000 per month.  Thats right, he feels that it takes more than $60,000 a year to raise a child, and believes that it should be based on up to $180,000 to $240,000 per month.  We call this transfer of wealth - not child support.

So, we can do one of two things, cross our fingers and hope for the best, or get off of our dead arses and spend one day supporting what is right for families - Shared Custody.  Go to one or both of these meetings, let your voice be heard, bring a sign and wave it around outside, and let everyone know that we are TIRED of the destruction of families in Washington State.

Here’s the meeting information:

Saturday, September 13, 2008  NEW ITEM
2:00 to 4:00 pm Public Input   9am committee meeting begins!
Vancouver (WA) Hilton
301 W. 6th Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360) 993-4500
Driving directions to Vancouver, WA Hilton

Saturday, September 27, 2008 NEW ITEM
2:00 to 4:00 pm  9am committee meeting begins!
SeaTac Doubletree
18740 International Boulevard in SeaTac.
206-246-8600 
driving directions go to http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/CTAC-DT-Doubletree-Hotel-Seattle-Airport-Washington/index.do

Make a commitment to your children now - attend these meetings and let your voice be heard!  Not a public speaker - imagine the moral support you can give to those that are!  Please - do your part!

I watched this trailer and really thought I saw someone I was married to at one time, and definitely saw the hurt that my children have endured.  It’s incredible how this videographer has captured the essence of parental alientation.

I can’t wait to see this film.

The rumor is out that the Washington State Bar Association Family Law Committee that has been participating in the Child Support Workgroup for several years, and pushing their agenda of an enormous increase in the Child Support in Washington State is fed up with the Child Support Workgroup, realizing they can’t pass their self-centered agenda legitimately and will now attempt to pass their own legislation through the 2009 Legislature.

That’s right, after trying to manipulate the system by advocating for out of state Economist Dr. David Betson, by getting court employees on the committee as Parent volunteer nominated by Governor Gregoirre, they have now decided they are defeated and must form another tactic to get their hate and discontent into the hands of the legislature.

The sad thing is that this splinter group of radical feminist will push an agenda of hate to the legislature, and will be representing the entire Washington State Bar Association when they do so.  It’s incredible that the WSBA has allowed their name to be marginalized by a small group that is not in touch with mainstream Washington Citizens.  It’s amazing that this small group is allowed to push for an agenda that is unreasonable and not in the best interest of any Washington Familes - but creates acromony that fuels a legal industry in Washington State.

If you are a member of the Washington State Bar Association - you have two choices - remain ashamed of the behavior of your Family Law Committee, or stand up and say what is right for the Families of Washington State.  Support Families, like your own, or destroy families like your Family Law Committee does.

Any non-custodial parent that has called his local police department hoping to get assistance in upholding the mandatory parenting plan understands the frustration that parents feel from the lack of support received.  It’s simple - the police officers that WE fund to uphold the laws of our state simply won’t get involved in this civil issue.  They will tell you they don’t get involved with civil issues, but the fact remains they do get involved in some civil issues - but they pick and chose which ones. 

Here is a quote that strikes me odd.  Maybe it strikes my funny bone, and provides that sting that goes along with a strike of the funny bone.  Actually, it’s quite disgusting to read it from a police official in Washington State.

“To answer your question why we are not aggressively going after Civil Contempt of Parenting plans, or parenting plan violations should be pretty obvious to you:  because no one is paying us to do so. ”

Talk about an understandment.  It’s not that it’s not aggressive, its that it is non-existent!  Period. 

For instance, many domestic violence issues are simple civil issues.  But, under Federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funding, the police receive federal funding to get involved with this type of civil issue.  They make it their business.  This author has no issue with that, as long as it is applied equally to all domestic violence issues, and bias is not shown, but male and female perpetrators are treated equally.  Of course we all know that its not today.

However, divorce has several other issues that are civil - child support and parenting plans.  But a state requirement before a judge will give a divorce is a parenting plan.  WE’ve written often about the bias that our judges give out with their parenting plans without even batting an eye, or feeling bad - its blatant, and well understood.  It happens, each and every day, and the judges don’t care, since it is a part of their funding through the Division of Child Support.

However, why police will get involved with child support issues, while ignoring parenting plan violations baffles many.  Let’s expose the truth about it, so everyone understands it.  Until we understand this problem, we can’t fix it.  And its quite simple, in the eyes of police - nobody pays them to do it.  Thats right - in their words, they don’t get paid to uphold the court ordered parenting plan that is there to protect Washington’s Childeren.  Yes, I know, your tax dollars are given to them to uphold all laws, and they are not asked to exclude the parenting plan enforcement responsibility from their budget, and there are laws that make it a misdemeanor to withhold a child from another parent for parenting time. 

One police office friend told the truth - their officers, and all the officers in Washington State, don’t pursue parenting plan violations - they aren’t trained to do so, they are not encouraged to do so.  So, they refuse to do it.  You read the quote - they believe they are not paid to do so.   Of course this is way beyond irresponsible that our elected law enforcement officials ignore this important aspect of protecting children.  I’ve always assumed my taxes are paid to law enforcement to uphold the laws of Washington State - and it is against the law to violate a court ordered parenting plan that was SUPPOSEDLY ordered by the courts to protect the best interest of the child - yet there is no police protection when the best interest of the child is violated.

It’s just like Child Protective Services, you know, the ones that only remove a child from an abuse parent, or foster parent when a gurney is required.  DSHS and the police are the same here - they only remove a child after they have been permanently harmed - if then.  That is why the 93% of Washington’s children that come from families that only give them 4 days per month - and also get violated at that, fail in school, end up pregnant, commit the majority of teen suicides, and drop out of school.

Great police we have here in Washington State - aren’t they.  How to I get my abused tax dollars back?  Or, how much will it cost to have my children protected?

Oh course, its the same as the rest of the state - most of Snohomish Counties Judges will run unopposed.  In fact, there is just two positions that have more than one candidate - out of 15 in the county.  Positions 6 and 8 actually have a challenge, while the rest have fallen under the typical position to not run against a sitting judge if you don’t want to committ a career decision as an attorney by running against one of them.

I guess we can see more of the same from Snohomish County, and I suspect the career Commissioners of Snohomish County will remain in their position still.

One of our members has sent out an email to candidates with questions about how they will deal with family court matters.  One has responded so far.  Once the others do, or don’t, we will offer up our recommendations for these positions.

Here is our laundry list of changes we would like to see in Snohomish County Courts - 

• We would like to see a new presiding Judge - and hopefully it is the sole judge that abstained from voting about the return of the recorders in Family Court - since obviously this is the only one that was truly respresenting the will of the people of Snohomish County.
• Replace any commissioner that has been in their position for more than 8 years.    Sorry slackers - its time to actually run for a judicial position rather than sit there collecting the fat.  It’s getting to your heads.
• Cancel your contract with Washington States Division of Child Support which calls for “in kind contributions” in exchange for “priority Services”.  And signed by a presiding judge on top of it all!!!!  We don’t need our judges being paid by an agency that benefits directly from the decision you make!
• Dignity - we would like to see Commissioners kept from speaking rudely to family members - no more calling people idiots, ignorant, or other unkind words.
• Rule of law - how about following Washington State Law rather than the joke of paperwork put together by the prosecutors office, who is 100% funded by Washington State Division of Child Support - a revenue machine for Washington State.
• Hold Liar’s accountable in your courts - yes, actually rule against them and give them sanctions when false allegations are made, or when they outright lie in courts.

If you are a candidate for Judge in Snohomish County - we would love to know if you can live up to these changes.  We are counting on it, and also doubting it.

What we really want to know - will you make it into the corrupt judges of Washington Book?

Heres the races - Running for Position #6

• Joe Wilson
• George Appel
• Jim Johanson

Our thoughts - Appel is endorced by Janice Ellis, Prosecuting Attorney.  Here in ability to reign in her family court division causes concern for any candidate she recommends.  He has been a DV Prosecutor - that is one big strike against him - as it will be hard for him to overcome his well trained bias as a judge.  Andy prosecutor that hasn’t stood up and screamed about the bias in DV is a worry for families.  Rob McKenna also endorces him.  We like Rob, so we are listening.  But we need him to answer our questions before we ask anyone to give him a vote.   Johanson is endorced by Aaron Reardon - we like that, and that is a positive note.  HE is also endorsed by several judges - who are running unopposed - that scares us!  Joe Wilson - Sorry - too many beaurocrats support him, including most of the sitting judges and the former sheriff for the county.  Yikes!

Running for Position #8

• David Hulbert 
• Eric Lucas

Our thoughts -  David Hulbert’s candidate statement blasts his opponent more than anything else - seems less than professional.  Doesn’t matter to us that he was a judge in the past - elected three times - I suspect several were unopposed anyways.  Eric Lucas -  the fact that the local Bar voted negatively towards him is a plus in our book!  Maybe, just maybe we have a judge that doesn’t believe in bias in the courts, and doesn’t follow the behavior of the local bar association!  We might like this guy!  A lot!

Let’s face it, it’s not an easy task finding the more than 350,000 non-custodial parents in Washington State.  Imagine, 325,000 of them only get to see their kids 4 days or less a month.  It’s a travesty that our media should be screaming about.  Yet, they are silent!

You can make a difference - pick up the phone, or write an email, or letter to your favorite radio show and ask them to promote the signing of the shared parenting bill at http://petition.WashingtonSharedParenting.com

Write a comment to your local TV Station and ask them to do a story on Shared Parenting - and ask that they tell about the petition at http://petition.WashingtonSharedParenting.com

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper - tell about how test scores are lower for high school seniors, suicides are up, teen pregnancy is up, and dropouts are up when both parents are not substantially involved in the lives of the children.

Let everyone know that both parents are necessary to conceive a child, and both are needed to raise them to be responsible members of our society.

You can make a difference, but will you?

That Tietsort is known as Father Time.  And it has special meaning to him - as he looks for more Father time with his children.  today - Fathers day, Thad was dressed as Father time and walking in front of the Yakima County Courthouse.  He plans on doing this every Sunday until the election.  His belief is now is the time to get the message to the judges and members of the legislature that are up for re-election - that it Father Time - Time to give fathers the time they deserve with their children.

 Your absolutely right Thad, and we need to support you!  Yakima is a great place to go for a drive some weekend, spend the weekend enjoying some Eastern Washington Sunshine, and joining in with Thad for one of his protests.  For more information, visit Thads website at http://www.geopics.net/fathertime

What have you done recently to promote shared parenting?  Isn’t it about time to support your children and get involved?

UPDATE - See the Video

When only 15% of the fathers in Washington get custody of their children, and only 7% of the non-custodial parents get their kids more than 4 days per month, all that we can hope is better results for the next generation.  And that is in every aspect of the situion.

• Hope that the next generation of Judges will not carry on the cronism of the current Judges
• Hope that the courts will recognize the rule of law, and not their own personal biases
• Hope that our Courts will recognize that it is an extreme conflict of interest for them to have contracts with State Agencies
• Hope that our state will realize that Commissioners should be temporary positions, not lifetime achievements for attorneys looking for a raise from low paying Prosecutor positions.
• Hope that their children and grandchildren will see unbiased courts that make ruling based on laws, rather than bias and contracts with State Child Support Agencies
• Hope that our Legislature rids itself of the DV scream queens that instills fear towards fathers - loving fathers that want nothing more than a life with their children

It’s a sad state of affairs in Washington State - a system broken.  A system that is built around the destruction of the family, and built around non-traditional family values.

Fathers day is a sad day for many - children and their fathers.  And it won’t change as long as we all watch it pass by, doing nothing.  Get involved now.  You really can make a difference if you just get involved!

A story in the Tri-City Herald highlights a protest walk that has been organized by a Kennewick man - Julian Mariscal.  Mariscal has gotten permits for a protest to start at the Benton Counties Justice Center in Kennewick at noon on Fathers day.  The walk will proceed down to Columbia way.

The story has comment by a local Benton County Judge - Robert Swisher, a Superior Court Judge.  His comment “The typical family pattern was the mother at home with the children, the father working,” serious puts a doubt on ability to make decision in todays courts.  These families are not traditional, as they are getting divorced.  That mother is going to work.  In fact, I think the Cleavers were the last traditional family - with Beaver left wondering what happened to his traditional family.  Swisher, a long time judge feels fathers get their fair day in court. 

“The law mandates that both mother and father receive equal consideration in awarding custody to one or the other, and I think both do,” he said.  Oh course he does, as he is a part of the system of judges in our state that award custody to mothers in 85% of all divorces, and ensure that non-custodial parents in 93% of all divorces get 4 days a  month or less.

Certainly Swisher won’t admit the bias of his court, or the other courts of Washington State.  It’s telling when a Washington State Senator testifies to the legislature that a Tacoma Judge explained to him that in Pierce Couty “We give every other weekend, thats what we do”.  So much for the rule of law!

We wish you well with your walk tomorrow Julian.  You are a hero in the eyes of many.

However, until we all vote these judges from the dark ages out of office, we can expect that children of Washington State will suffer.  We have the judges that ignore the intent of the legislature, and the people of Washington State to thank for increase teen suicide, lower test scores, high teen pregnancy, and the rest of the social issues that come with it.

THis election season - send a strong message - reelect nobody!  And, if the judge is unopposed, write in Shared Parenting as a write-in and vote for them!  Lets send a message to the cronies that run our courts!

 UPDATE - SEE the Video

Democratic Candidate David Spring has just announced that he will be seeking your vote when he runs for the Washington State Legislatures 5th District.  David has proven to be one of the biggest supporters of shared parenting in Washington State, himself a parent with a shared custody parenting plan.

As a member of the Washington State Child Support Workgroup, and faculty of Washington State University, David comes with a wealth of experience to the State Legislature, and will be uniquely qualified to help educate the entire legislature on the need for protecting Washington’s children and families.

All Shared Parenting Advocates need to get behind David, helping to promote his candidacy wherever they can.  We need all candidates that support shared parenting to win their races if we want to bring about change in Washington State.

Please consider a donation to the campaign to elect David Spring.  You can make any size donation to “Spring for House” by mailing your donation to P.O. Box 57, North Bend, WA 98045.  We need to get David rolling financially so he can get matching funds from his party to really make a race out of this.

Let’s all work to make a difference in Washington State!!!