Rep. Peter Petrarca, D-Lincoln, a lawyer who practices in the Divorce Court, has tried for years to stiffen the criminal penalties for nonsupport. He calls the deadbeat dads “scumbags.’’ Another millionaire politician incarcerating men who are poor, during toughest of economic times.

TracyMorganFreeman · 2012-06-04T16:55:37+00:00

"A politician pushes for legislation that helps him and hurts others, news at 11"

ZimbaZumba · 2012-06-04T17:16:27+00:00

God are some politicians still trying to shamelessly milk dead beat dads for political capital. History will look back on this type of thing in utter disgust, as we should now.

This is an issue of debtors prison and a Family Law system that seems immune from scrutiny due the fact one of the major stake holders, ie fathers, have no meaningful input into it.

Fathers Rights have been suppressed by the powerful due to the political advantage they can gain from screwing fathers around.

TerriChris · 2012-06-04T14:44:28+00:00

Educate Rep Petratca that the laws criminalizing divorced dads violates civil rights for incarcerating a man solely for failing to pay a debt. When fighting fathers becomes piling on - the overcriminalization of divorce.

Contact here

Il128 · 2012-06-04T19:08:18+00:00

You know how long it can take a man to owe 10k in back support?

Imagine a man who is divorced, 4 children, he's a manger earning just over 100k... His CS payment is $4,600. Two months of unemployment and he's going to jail and he hasn't even had time to hire a lawyer and tell the court he's unemployed.

MRMRising · 2012-06-04T17:56:42+00:00

The law makes it a felony to owe more than $10,000 in back support and violators who can, but won’t pay can be sent to prison for up to five years.

There it is, Debtors Prison.

Rep. Peter J. Petrarca, D-Lincoln, a lawyer who practices in the Family Court, has tried for years to stiffen the criminal penalties for nonsupport. He calls the deadbeats “scumbags.’’

I wonder if this White Knight is up for re-election. I bet he is trolling for the woman's vote.

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