Mississippi Opportunity - 1/5/08

[Smartmarriages]

- MISSISSIPPI OFFICIALS MULL WAYS TO REDUCE DIVORCE

OK, Mississippians, here's your chance to grab an oar and make a huge
difference in your state.  You've got a Governor who is looking for ways to
strengthen marriage and reduce divorce, family breakdown, and out-of-wedlock
births. And, this article identifies a State Senator who is interested.
That's a GREAT head start. And, remember if your elected officials don't
know the solutions, it's not their fault, it's our fault. These folks are
clearly unaware of so many easy, obvious solutions and have lots of
misinformation about what's gone before in other states.
 
Help them write legislation that will provide the next landmark model
initiatives for other states to follow.  Bone up on Marriage Education
incentive legislation like that passed in Florida and Minnesota; Divorce
legislation like that passed in Louisiana; TANF set-asides like that passed
in Texas. 

Start reading here: http://www.smartmarriages.com/legislation.html

If you're ready to take this on, let me know and we can alert others in your
state to contact you with help. - diane

Clarion Ledger 
January 5, 2008

Officials mull ways to reduce divorces

Session participants debate counseling, covenant marriages
Natalie Chandler

Discouraging divorce topped the agenda of Lt. Gov.-elect Phil Bryant's
pre-legislative brainstorming session with state officials Friday, sparking
a debate that raised questions about how much control the government should
wield over marriage and family issues.

Bryant, a Republican who touted "strengthening families" as an issue on the
campaign trail last fall, acknowledged legislation may not improve marital
strife. About 45 percent of marriages end in divorce nationwide, and 47
percent of children in Mississippi live in single-parent families, according
to state data.

"I don't know if government can do anything about it," Bryant said. "But a
lot of times, we incentivize you not to get married."

State senators and policy experts who met with him in a Jackson Marriott
conference room suggested several options. One would require or offer
marriage and family education to high school students, while another would
mandate a "cooling-off period," similar to legal separation, for couples who
are considering divorce.

But any new laws regulating marriage or divorce would face hurdles from
lawmakers including House Judiciary A Committee Chairman Ed Blackmon, who
said the plans sound like "heavy-handed politics."

Lawmakers shouldn't "be putting our noses into the business of people,"
Blackmon, D-Canton, added. "You can't say, 'You ought to live that way.' "

State Sen. Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia agreed. "We're getting caught up in too
much stuff. I mean, come on. Everybody has a responsibility."

Bryant, who has been married for more than 30 years, seemed particularly
interested in covenant marriages.

Three states have enacted an optional covenant marriage license that
requires premarital counseling and sets strict conditions for divorce. The
legislation, passed in Arkansas, Louisiana and Arizona, was introduced in
the Mississippi Legislature last year but failed to gain enough support.

Lawmakers reconvene Tuesday at the state Capitol.

Sen. Joey Fillingane, an unmarried Republican from Sumrall, said he is
considering filing similar legislation.

But a study of covenant marriages conducted since Louisiana's 1997 law found
that while it helps preserve marriages, few couples choose it.

Statistics show that children raised outside intact marriages are more
likely to use drugs, drop out of school, commit crimes or suicide, get
divorced later or have children out of wedlock, according to documents
provided by the state Department of Human Services.

Experts nationwide agree most marriages fail because couples can't resolve
conflicts, said the Rev. Carl King of Ocean Springs.

King, who has counseled couples for more than 20 years, said the government
could mandate relationship seminars and offer conflict resolution training.

But lawmakers worried how much taxpayers would have to foot the bill. They
said proposals to hike the state's $22 marriage license fee or require
pre-marital counseling would be blasted as taxes on the poor or considered
as discouraging marriage.

And if marital education is put in schools, "Who says what will be taught?"
asked Sen. Gary Jackson, R-Kilmichael. "It's a slippery slope."

States have tweaked marriage laws in various ways. Louisiana recently
extended the waiting period between the time couples apply for a license and
are married. In Florida, the $90 marriage license fee drops to $60 if a
couple agrees to undergo four hours of counseling before they wed.

In almost every state, there are efforts to publicly fund more marital and
family education, said John Crouch, executive director of Americans for
Divorce Reform. Studies show education helps, he said.

"The government is already completely involved in divorce," said Crouch, a
divorce lawyer. "So if the law can give opportunities to strengthen
marriage, it reduces government involvement in the long run, if it's done in
the right way."

But there are more effective ways to keep families together, Blackmon said.
He cited a better education system that leads to jobs with health-care
benefits.

If couples want counseling, they can seek it at any time without government
mandates, he said.

But by the time most couples look for help, "the kids are unhappy, there's
stress, they're unhealthy," Blackmon said. "You're gonna tell me it's worth
keeping those people together?"

To comment on this story, call journalist Natalie Chandler at (601)
961-7075.


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