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Lawmakers are looking to again pass alimony changes that would put an end to permanent payments. As Matt Galka tells us, opponents say it would seriously harm women.

When the honeymoon’s over, divorce is sometimes the next step for some Florida couples.  And while the state is currently married to the law that allows for permanent alimony, that relationship could be heading for a breakup soon.

Sponsor Rep. Colleen Burton (R-Lakeland) says the her bill is designed to reduce messy court fights.

“The overall of which is to reduce litigations that inflicts both economic and emotional toll on spouses and their families who are going through a divorce and seeking alimony

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 says payees are being extorted.

“The alimony payer often times is ordered to pay unaffordable amounts of alimony. It puts the alimony payer sometimes in bankruptcy, in contempt, and sometimes in jail. The alimony receiver on the other hand, the current law perpetuates an entitlement attitude,” said Frisher.

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 and not focus on their career?

“Their husbands wanted them to stay home, have children, raise the children while he’s out at work. He’s advancing in his career, she has no career,” said Barbara DeVane with the National Organization for Women.

The vote cleared the committee along party lines with Republicans supporting it.  The bill made it to the Governor’s desk in 2013 before he vetoed it.

The Governor said in 2013 that he vetoed the proposal because it would allow already settled divorces to retroactively eliminate permanent alimony. It was speculated that alimony reform didn’t do much in 2014 because it was an election year.