To the editor:
The Missouri Senate passed Senate Bill 651 on a 33-0 vote. The bill now goes to the House where it may meet resistance from the Missouri Bar. SB 651 has provisions that allow people an easier and quicker way to appear in court to resolve child-custody issues without a lawyer.
Although this bill is good for parents and families, it reduces the profitability of lawyers who make a lot of money from protracted child-custody disputes. It is now up to speaker of the House, Steve Gaw, to move this bill into committee and not table it. Speaker Gaw is a lawyer, and I fear that he will be presured by his fellow lawyers to put the profit of lawyers ahead of the needs of the people. I would remind Speaker Gaw that he was elected by the people, and his loyalties should be to put families first and lawyers second and pass SB 651 into law.
MARC PERKEL
Springfield, Mo.
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