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Legislation to end permanent alimony and set stricter guidelines for other divorce settlements passed another House committee today. As Whitney Ray tells us, if the bill becomes law old alimony settlements could be reworked.

A wedding, a celebration of love and commitment. But what happens after the cake’s cut if the couple splits?

In Florida, depending on how long the couple was married and other factors, one spouse could pay the other spouse for the rest of their life. It’s called permanent alimony. And bill moving through the committee process at the state capitol would eliminate it.

Thursday, divorced man after divorced man stood in front of lawmakers and called permanent alimony a life sentence.

“I’ve been held in bondage by the state and forced to pay alimony against my will for the past 30 years,” said RC Lindsey, a 77 year old divorced man.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Ritch Workman, says the current system is outdated.

“Things have change in the family and so should alimony,” said Workman.

But opponents, like Elisha Roy with the Florida Bar, say the legislation would keep spouses from staying home and raising kids.

“Essentially what this bill says it, ‘you’ve got to go to work. You’ve got to work to your highest potential while you’re at work, cause if you don’t you are going to have a very short period of time, half the length of your marriage, to figure out a way to make back that social security that you sacrificed and make back that retirement income you sacrificed,’” said Roy.

The bill would also allow old alimony cases to be reworked.

“Essentially what we are doing is opening the flood gates to every divorce that has ever been decided in Florida,” said Roy.

After several amendments and a few objections, the bill passed. Workman says he’ll continue to amend the bill in an effort to gain support.

The bill has now passed two committees in the House and one in the Senate and could be ready for a floor vote before the end of the month.

Gay and lesbian couples in Florida are hoping this is the year state lawmakers legalize domestic partnerships. A bill creating a domestic partnership registry has stalled in its first senate committee. As Whitney Ray tells us, to get the bill moving again equal rights activists are speaking out.

Democrats, attorneys and gay rights activists gathered on the fourth floor of the state capital Monday trying to change minds about same sex couples.

Nadine Smith is the Executive Director of Equality Florida, a gay and lesbian rights group backing a bill to set up a domestic partnership registry.

“It enjoys broad public support. The business community has been one of the leading voices saying we need these protections,” said Smith.

The bill would allow same-sex couples to register their civil unions. The legal recognition would allow them to visit each other in the hospital, in prison and make emergency decisions for each other.

“In the moments when it matters the most, in case of an emergency, rushing somebody to the hospital, there’s no guarantee you’re going to be treated with the respect your family deserves,” said Smith.

The idea has already been vetted by senate committee but the bill’s sponsor pulled it fearing there wasn’t enough votes to pass the legislation.

State Senator Eleanor Sobel is the sponsor. She’s made some changes to the bill in hopes of getting it moving again.

“This bill now is what the committee will agree to,” said Sobel.

Opponents see the partnership bill as a step toward legalizing gay marriage but in reality voters have the final say. In 2008, a constitutional amendment was passed writing a gay marriage ban into the state constitution.

Domestic partnerships are recognized in many Florida cities and counties. Just under half of the state’s population lives in areas were they are legal. Supporters of the bill say the local ordinances have created a confusing patchwork and the bill will clear things up.

Permanent alimony would no longer be allowed in Florida under legislation that cleared a key State House Committee today in Tallahassee. The bill makes dozens of changes to the divorce statute and continues to move despite opposition from lawyers and women’s organizations.

Marriage is supposed to last forever…but sometime after the toast on wedding day, the glass becomes empty for half of all marriages. Once in court, the outcome is never certain. Hector Torres of Miami came to Tallahassee to tell his story. “And I was divorced at the age of 34. My ex wife was 33 at the time of the divorce., and I have to pay her permanent alimony for the rest of my life.

More than a dozen people with similar stories wearing red filled the seats in the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Rick Workman is the sponsor of a bill making changes in divorce law. Among the biggest. Unfaithfulness when alimony is awarded.

“Judges often times look at the one receiving the money and make sure that standard of living remains the same as the marriage, where the payor finds himself or herself at a significant reduction in income and standard of living,” says Workman. “This bill just says hey, let’s make sure there is a presumption both parties will have a lower standard of living.”

Under the bill that passed, alimony could end at retirement. And it adds three years…from 17 to 20 years of marriage before a judge can consider long term alimony. Barbara Devane from The National Organization for Women is concerned. “They stay home, they raise the children, and then they get older and the man trades them in for a younger wife, and then they are left out in the cold, and they must be protected,” she says.

Sponsors say the ultimate objective is to get the same outcome in similar cases, something which is often not the case now. The Florida Bar Family Law Section also expressed doubts about changing the law, but said it was willing to work with the sponsor to make sure the bill is fair to both sides in a divorce.

Uncle Sam owes 11-thousand Floridians money. 20 million dollars in tax return checks are waiting to be claimed. Capitol Correspondent Whitney Ray tells us who the checks belong to, and how to claim those dollars without being scammed.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, there�s good news for 11-thousand Floridians. They overpaid Uncle Sam, and the IRS is trying to refund their money. In all, taxpayers are owed 20 million dollars. The average pay out is more than 17-hundred.

The checks were mailed out this summer, but were sent back to the IRS because the addresses were wrong.�

Most of the checks are written out to people who moved, changed their name because of a marriage or divorce, or died. Family members of the deceased can claim their loved ones check.

But be wary of anyone emailing you about a tax return. The IRS doesn�t contact taxpayers by email, but scammers do. The state Attorney General�s office sees it all the time.

�People send out these emails. They look like they are from the government and they encourage people to email them. Click on links. Put in their personal information. It�s really a scam,� said Sandi Copes, Spokeswoman for the Attorney General�s Office.

Getting the money back in the economy could help boost sales this holiday season. Florida TaxWatch says if the 20 million dollars was spent on presents it would have a major impact on Florida�s economy.

�When you bring money like this into the economy, the multiplier effect can be as high as seven times. That money gets spent and re-spent and re-spent,� said Weissert.

And money spent on gifts for loved ones also pumps dollars into the state budget through sales taxes. To find out if you are owed money you can visit our website and look for your name or go to the IRS site at www.irs.gov or call at 1-800-829-1954.

Martin Gill�s two foster children are now six and ten, but the youngest was just four months when they came to live with Martin and his partner. Martin says their time together has been the best.

�They are both really my pride and joy,” Gill said. “I really am so attached and love these kids so much. Needless to say, I wouldn�t let this law stand between me and my kids. We had to find a way around it and it sounds like we have.�

Gill says he has lived in fear of losing his children, every week for the past 13 months.

�In the back of my mind, I just could imagine them showing up at our door Wednesday afternoon to take my kids,” Gill said.� “So it certainly hasn�t been easy. I�ve done my best to insulate them from that.�

Because the ruling was based on equal protection, it has the potential to expand the rights of gays and lesbians.

Marriage may not be one of them since gay marriage is banned in the constitution.

Just last week, Governor Charlie Crist says he supported gay adoption.

�We are going to immediately stop enforcing the ban on those adoptions because the district court has statewide application,” Crist said. “As it relates to potential appeal, I would like some time to give it some thought. See what the plaintiffs might deem appropriate.�

There are currently 850 children waiting for adoption.

The Governor says it is likely the case will be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court� so that there will be a permanent statewide resolution to the question of� gays and lesbians adopting.

Since 2007, 121 Floridians have had their names removed from the state�s list of sex offenders after the passage of a Romeo and Juliet law. The statute forgives sex between consenting teenagers. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the law sets strict age limits and it did not apply to one couple that just got their life back after a 15-year nightmare.

Virgil and Missy McCranie�s families were close. She was 12; he was 16 when they met. The two were just friends until he had a few drinks on his 19th birthday.
What happened next got him labeled a sex offender, which has made keeping the job somewhat of a nightmare.

�One instance I was managing a place, and it was sort of family oriented. And he said well you know, a lot of people find out I have someone like that working here, they don�t want to bring their families,� said Virgil.

The couple has been together for a dozen years, but marriage ten years ago didn�t make his status as a sex offender go away.

�He could not go into the class room. He couldn�t go on field trips,� said Missy.

Florida adopted a Romeo and Juliet law in 2007, but Virgil was too old for it to apply. The state�s Romeo and Juliet law leaves out hundreds, if not thousands of offenders simply because it only applies to kids who are between 14 and 17. Frustrated, the couple appealed to the Governor and Cabinet.

�You know, I�m not a monster. I don�t belong on this list. I never have,� said Virgil.

After waiting almost two moths, a letter arrived.

�We can go places. We don�t have to be ashamed anymore,� said Missy.

Unexpected, The pardon was a burden lifted from their shoulders,

�I mean I made a mistake but it�s a mistake that if I had to do over again- if it meant losing her- and I�d probably do the 15 years over again,� said Virgil.

Their story is proof that true love can prevail no matter how young or how difficult the circumstances.

The biggest opposition to Charlie Crist�s US Senate Campaign isn�t coming from the Democrats.

A pro-gay group is challenging Crist�s sexuality in a documentary called �Outrage.� The movie aims to out gay politicians. �Outrage� calls Crist�s marriage and dating life into question. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer is a little outraged himself at the accusations.

�Those attacks are so outrageous, I had someone tell me the other day I had someone tell me the other day I was mentioned in the national magazines and movies and I have four kids so I think anytime you are dealing with something like that it is ridiculous. It�s outrageous and it doesn�t warrant a response on any credibility,� said Greer.

Crist sexuality was brought up during his campaign for governor. Crist has been married twice and has denied being gay. Outrage was released on May 8th. It�s playing at select theaters across the country.

A group that successfully pushed a gay marriage ban into the state constitution is now taking aim at divorce.

More couples get divorced in Florida than in any other state. The Florida Family Policy Council wants to change the no fault divorce law to make it harder for couples with kids to separate. They also want to provide incentives for couples to take extra premarital counseling. President of the Florida Family Policy Council John Stemberger said reducing divorce will solve many problems the state faces.

�When you strengthen marriages and families you are simultaneously solving, you can�t name a domestic issue you�re not directly solving by directly strengthening marriage and families: Crime, education, poverty, business productivity, welfare, abortion,� said Stemberger.

The group says cutting divorces by 10 percent statewide could save taxpayers 100 million dollars a year by reducing the need for state and federal welfare programs.

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Photo Courtesy the Governor

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Photo by Colin Hackley/ Florida Governor

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Thurgood Marshall became the nation�s first black Supreme Court justice in 1967, the Beatles sang about Sgt Pepper�s Lonely Heart�s Club Band, and it was the last time a sitting Florida Governor got married after taking office. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, Florida�s current bachelor chief executive appears excited about the change in his life this Friday.

Hear it Here: Goin’ to the Chapel, and Crist’s Gonna Get Married

Governor Claude Kirk showed up at his January 1967 inaugural ball with a woman he would only identify as Madam X. She was 33-year-old Ericka Mattfield. The two were married before the year was out. Like Charlie Crist�s impending vows, the press was kept out. In a year end interview, the current governor says that he and Carol Rome, his bride to be, will split their time between three Florida cities.

�I look forward to her spending a lot of time at the mansion,� Crist said. �I also rent a place in St. Petersburg, she also owns a home in Miami. So between those three, that�s where we�ll be.�

Crist met 39-year-old Carol Rome through mutual friends in New York. He and others describe her as caring and compassionate.

�She�s got a great heart and cares deeply about children,� he said. �We went to a March of Dimes event, for example, this weekend. So I think things like that will come natural to Carol.�

The soon-to-be first lady has two daughters from a previous marriage. They attend school in New York. So it�s unclear if the sound of young children will grace the Governor�s mansion anytime soon.

Crist has been a bachelor since a brief marriage in 1980.

Most details of the wedding, including the guest list, are being kept secret.
A pool reporter will be at the wedding, but no television cameras will be allowed inside the church.

Floridians voted for more property tax exemptions and an extra ban on gay marriage. While three of the six amendments passed, the fate of an amendment to give tax exemptions to people who build green homes or strengthen them against hurricanes still hangs in the balance. As Whitney Ray tells us, the state may order a recount on amendment three.

Hear it Here: State Considers Recount on Amendment Three

Marina and water front business owners will receive tax breaks, so will people who conserve their land.

�Folks, who want to protect their property and keep it in private ownership, are now going to be able to get some tax relieve by doing that,� said Preston Robinson, an amendment three supporter.

A controversial ban on gay marriage also passed the 60 percent voter threshold. Opponents of the ban say the new law will affect couples gay and straight.

�What we have now is a situation where there is real concern that domestic partnership benefits for our large senior population in Florida in particular are threatened when it comes to their insurance benefits and hospital visitation,� said Damien Filer who opposed the ban.

The future of an amendment offering tax breaks to people who build green homes or strengthen them against hurricanes hangs in the balance.

Amendment three is still too close to call. The state may order a recount on three. Secretary of State Kurt Browning said a ballot misprint could have altered the results.

�There were precincts in Broward County that had amendment three twice on the ballot. They need to determine how many of those were cast and adjust the results accordingly,� said Browning.

Initial estimates show the amendment with 60.4 percent of the votes, which is enough to pass if nothing changes.

Amendments one and eight failed. One sought to eliminate a part of the state�s constitution which says aliens ineligible for citizenship, can�t own property in Florida. The law was written in the early 1900�s and was meant to keep Asians from buying land. Eight would have allowed counties to raise taxes temporarily to help fund community colleges.

The battle over writing a gay marriage ban into Florida�s constitution is heating up. Supporters and opponents of Amendment 2 are spending millions on television ads. As Whitney Ray tells us, people against the amendment say if 2 passes it would take away benefits from gay and straight couples.

Hear it Here: Amendement 2 Television Blitz Rages

The TV blitz in on. Supporters and opponents of a ban on gay marriage are reaching out to Floridians through their television sets. Yes2Marriage Chairman John Stemberger said how Floridians vote in November will have huge impact on our children.

�The issue is how marriage is going to be viewed in the next generation and how is that generation is going to view marriage as a cultural institution and a human institution,� said Stemberger.

Groups against the amendment, including retirees, firefighters and educators say if amendment 2 passes, it will have dire consequences for couples who live together, gay or straight.

�Those domestic partnerships come with benefits like hospital visitations and the right to share pension or health insurance and this amendment cause of the way its drafted could actually take those benefits away,� Derek Newton, Campaign Director of SayNo2.

The vote could be more symbolic than substantive. Florida already has a ban on gay marriage, but if amendment two passes the ban would be written in to the state constitution.

Concerns over how a constitutional ban on gay marriage would impact seniors killed a similar proposal in Arizona.

A coalition of groups representing retirees, educators, and others is
launching a million dollars TV campaign to fight Amendment 2. The
amendment is titled The Protection of Marriage Act, but opponents say
the amendment has grave consequences for couples who live together, gay
or not. Pastor Brent Copeland said he is a firm believer in Marriage.

�I think marriage should be held in honor among all people just as the letter to the Hebrews says. But I am opposed to amendment 2 because it would do real harm to people who are not married. The elderly couples that feel they cannot marry for economic reasons, and to people with domestic partnerships whose health and pension benefits could be taken away if this amendment should pass,� Copeland.

In one TV spot, an older couple describes the problems that could hit
seniors who are living together, but not married, it the amendment were
to pass. Say No to 2 says it will spend as much as it can raise to
defeat the amendment.

The budget is 6 billion dollars lighter than it was a year ago, sales and corporate tax revenues continue to fall and the governor is asking state departments to hold back four percent of their budgets. Despite the failing economy Whitney Ray tells us, there�s a sign things could be getting better.

Hear It Hear: A Ray of Hope for The Sunshine State

Floridians are spending less and so is big business. For May sales tax collections are 50 million dollars less than estimated. Corporate income tax is also down. Economists say declining home sales and high gas prices are hurting Florida.

�We do face the challenges from rising energy prices. We got the drag on the economy from the war in Iraq which is ongoing. So we�ve got the challenges,� said Randall Holcombe, an Economic Professor at FSU.

But this home loan paperwork could send a signal that the state is rising to the challenges. There�s a lot of paper work involved in buying a house and with the paper work comes a lot of taxes and fees.

Those collections go into the general fund as documentary stamp taxes. For May the Doc Tax came in 13 million dollars higher than expected. The Florida Realtors Association says home sales are up and an increase in the doc tax is good news.

�With increases in homes sales the doc stamps goes up and that helps build the state funds,� said John Sebree with the Florida Realtors Association.

Realtors say Amendment one is helping revive the state�s housing market. The amendment, approved by voters in January, allows homesteaded property owners to take their savings with them when they move.

�We�ve been talking to property appraisers across the state who are seeing a significant number, like in the thousands, of property owners who are filing for portability,� said Sebree.

The Florida Realtors Association will release its latest sales figures next week… But early indications are they numbers will be up. The new budget takes effect in July First. This is the first time in the State�s history; Florida has had back to back budgets with less money in them than the previous year.

Senator Oppose Gay Marriage Amendment

In November Floridians will be asked if they want a gay marriage ban written into the state�s constitution. Florida already has a ban on gay marriage. Supporters of writing a ban into the constitution say it would better protect Florida against lawsuits. US Senator Bill Nelson said the amendment would do more than keep the state out of lawsuits. Nelson said the amendment would hurt heterosexual couples living together.

�It would ban more than gay marriage. It bans any kind of sharing of property between people who are not married and I think that is why you see former Governor Bush and Governor Crist that are opposing it,� said Nelson.

Sixty percent of voters would have cast ballots for the Amendment in order for the ban to be written into the state constitution.

The clock has stopped for two organizations trying to get issues on the November ballot. Petitioners for Home Town Democracy and the Florida Marriage Amendment had until five o�clock Friday, to gather more than 600,000 signatures. The marriage amendment would ban same sex-marriages. The amendment proposed by Home Town Democracy would require local referendums on land-use changes. A spokesperson for the Secretary of State said every signature will be checked.

�When those petitions are turned in at the local level, the supervisor is looking at each signature, checking that signature against a name in the voter database to make sure that the person is a registered voter in that county,� said Sterling Ivey with the Secretary of State.

The results will be released tomorrow at noon.