TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Lawmakers are seeking again to pass alimony changes that would put an end to permanent payments. Opponents said it would seriously harm women.
Gov. Rick Scott said in 2013 that he vetoed the proposal because it would allow already settled divorces to retroactively eliminate permanent alimony. The speculation was that alimony reform didn't make much headway in 2014 because it was an election year.
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When the honeymoon is over, divorce is sometimes the next step for some Florida couples. While the state is currently married to the law that allows for permanent alimony, that relationship could be heading for a breakup soon.
Sponsor Colleen Burton said her bill is designed to reduce messy court fights.
"The overall (goal) is to reduce litigation that inflicts both economic and emotional tolls on spouses and their families who are going through a divorce and seeking alimony," Burton said.
The bill would eliminate permanent alimony. Instead of lifelong payments, an ex-spouse could be ordered to pay anywhere from 25 to 75 percent of the length of the marriage.
Florida Alimony Reform President Alan Frisher said payees are being extorted.
"The alimony payer often is ordered to pay unaffordable amounts of alimony," said Frisher. "It puts the alimony payer sometimes in bankruptcy, in contempt and sometimes in jail. (For) the alimony receiver, on the other hand, the current law perpetuates an entitlement attitude."
Women's groups that were against the proposal said that if wedding bells turn into a divorce, what happens to the women who had to stay at home rather than focus on their careers?
"Their husbands wanted them to stay home, have children, raise the children while he's out at work," said Barbara DeVane, of the National Organization for Women. "He's advancing in his career, she has no career."
The vote cleared committee along party lines, with Republicans supporting it. The bill made it to the governor's desk in 2013 before he vetoed it.