Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 18:03:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Gary Bremer garyb7000@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Child support guidelines
To: "Miles, Patricia"
Patricia.Miles@pacourts.us
Ms. Miles,
Thank you for your timely response. As you had stated the income shares model
is the basis of child support. The underlying belief of this model is
based upon the idea that the child of separated or divorced parents should
receive the same proportion of parental income that she or he would have
received if the parents lived together. While you have mentioned that the income
shares model is the basis for child support guidelines, the income shares model
does not reflect the reality of the fact that it is mothers of single parent
households that primarily benefit from child support awards, not the child.
As proof I can offer you the fact that a majority of mothers in single parent
households work less than forty hours per week or do not work at all. This would
also indicate that mothers of single parent households do not normally
contribute to the financial support of children.
This is a prime example of a value judgment. In fact, according to the American
Heritage dictionary, the true definition of a value judgment is: A judgment that
assigns a value, as to an object or action; a subjective evaluation. This would
indicate that the income share model is based primarily on nothing more than
biased opinion and not the reality of the situation.
In contrast, you have specifically stated, in previous responses that I have
received from you, that accountability practices in child support cases would be
construed as value judgments. However, by allowing value judgments to be
utilized for child support guidelines for one party and not allowing them to be
utilized for another party is completely unjust, unconstitutional and a
violation of the fourteenth amendment.
Additionally, while you have also mentioned that you are not aware of any
other states that utilize the cost shares model, what regulations prevents the
cost shares model from being instituted as child support guidelines here in
Pennsylvania? And, if the income shares model accurately depicts the child
rearing costs, why is it not utilized in all 50 states?
Furthermore, while you have acknowledged that child support guidelines are
based upon intact households, you have completely missed the point that I have
stated: Because intact households are non existent in child support cases,
renders the use of intact households in child support cases as unjust. And,
while you have also gone on to explain that costs are higher for one-parent
households (not intact households), you have not demonstrated any evidence that
justifies the use of intact households in child support cases.
Thank you for your time.
Gary Bremer
