Almost always, the answer to that question is: Follow-The-Money. It’s shameful what may be at play here in the Missouri legislature as it proceeds in an attempt to change the definition of marriage and family forever, right under the noses of their constituents across the state.

On Monday I spent the day in the state’s capitol testifying against Republican Senator Mike Cierpiot’s SB-307, the concurrent senate bill to HB-194 bullet-training its way through the legislative session that seeks to severely diminish, if not completely eliminate, maintenance awards in divorce.

This kind of legislation has been floating through the MO legislator for the past few years without much advancement, but since the beginning of this session it has been infused with rocket fuel. That usually means one thing. Someone is highly motivated to see it finally passed.

In my conversations with Sen. Cierpiot, he specifically told me the bill wasn’t being pushed by a well funded lobby, but some information may suggest otherwise.

It’s important to note the following. Mike Cierpiot was a state rep from 2010 to 2018 where served in a leadership position as Majority Floor Leader. Nothing in his legislative history shows that he previously carried family court related legislation. SB-307 is uncharted territory for him. But he has influence within the legislature. It would be a smart move to assign legislation to someone like him if it was part of the chosen agenda to move through the session.

It’s not uncommon for party leadership to set agendas during the legislative session and they will assign bills to legislators according to issues they decide are most relevant. It is also standard practice for leadership to disseminate campaign contributions from PACs to legislators who work to carry out those agendas. However, tracking that money is nearly impossible under Missouri’s campaign finance laws.

Other than one attorney, so far, only three people have come forward to testify in support these concurrent pieces of legislation. Where’s the hue and cry for change?

Enter Divorce Corp. You first heard here about Divorce Corp and it’s wealthy founder Joe Sorge. Sorge founded this organization after being ordered to pay hefty awards to his ex in his own dissolution. Ever since, he has grown his organization, recruiting men across the country to lobby for the elimination of standard family law statutes; statutes that will ultimately change the face and definition of marriage and family in the United States.

In fact, in 2015 when Missouri floated the current attempt to eliminate maintenance Divorce Corp posted this on its facebook page encouraging its members to lobby legislators in favor of changing the laws here.

And then there is this, from the American Bar Association. Trial lawyers have a big stake in changing the statutes. Their jobs will ultimately be easier and they will rake in the tons of dough as men will be flocking to court to initiate modifications under the new SB-307 mandates.

The article describes the tiered system of alimony elimination and sums it’s opinion of spousal support as this:

“Perhaps this understanding of alimony still exists in cases where divorce occurs after a traditional, long-term marriage in which the wife did not work. But many marriages today are not long-term, and very few women are entirely removed from the workforce. By and large, the marriages of our grandfathers and grandmothers do not exist today.”

It is fair to question if this bill has roots/connections/support from big money lobbying organizations. If it walks like a duck …

When a bill maneuvers through the Missouri legislature, it’s either part of the agenda set by leadership, or it’s not. Legislators boast their success by the legislation they pass, and they may carry many unpasted bills in a session. They partially mark their success by measuring just how far their bills navigate through the system. Getting hearings in committees is an important part of that process. Bills that aren’t going to make it through to floor debate get a “courtesy hearing” in May, long after the serious bills are identified, so that elected can go back to their districts and claim relevance.

As for now, both SB-307 and HB-194 are still in committee, but they are expected to move to floor debate soon.

Eliminating maintenance just brings further hardship to women who are already suffering under rulings from too many judges who have strayed from statutes to protect them from financial ruin after divorce. If the legislature wants to bring accountability to the marriage partnership, eliminate no-fault divorce.

Send Mike Cierpiot an email and let him know you want him to protect marriage and family. Tell him to withdraw SB-307.

Here’s his Facebook page and Twitter: @MikeCierpiot

Image: Source

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