TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott is vetoing an emotionally contentious bill that would end permanent alimony payments and urge judges to enforce equal time-sharing with children of divorcing parents.
Scott acted on the bill amid an acrimonious debate that included supporters and opponents of the bill yelling at each other in the lobby of the governor's office this week. The Republican governor vetoed a similar bill dealing with alimony in 2013.
The measure vetoed by Scott replaces permanent alimony with formulas based on the length of the marriage and the spouses' incomes to set the amount and duration of the payments.
It also advises judges to implement equal time-sharing of children between parents. But backers said it gives judges discretion to deviate from the time-sharing and alimony formulas depending on circumstances.
