Kansas opened two days of study today to discuss a pressing issue for the state - how to reduce the rate of divorce. In the last session, an Anonymous Kansas legislator submitted legislation aimed at
ending no-fault divorce, requiring couples to seek specific cause for the termination of their marriage through a legal proceeding.
As the hearing pressed on today, Stephanie Clayton, Republican from Overland Park took to twitter to note something many in the gallery were thinking:
Love was a factor not discussed within the room. Through testimony delivered by members of the American Family Association as well as conservative advocates the hearing continued to press on noting issues of 'societal duty' and 'protection of children', as well as other civic and moral responsibilities, but the discussion of matters of the heart didn't come to the forefront in the testimony provided.
Steve Brunk, chair of the House committee is unsure of whether or not these two days of hearings will lead to actual legislation:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/...
Wichita Republican Rep. Steve Brunk called the hearings in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, which he chairs, saying the state has an interest in keeping marriages together. Brunk, who opposes allowing same-sex couples to marry, said it was too early to say if the hearings will result in specific legislation, but that “Kansans can get a divorce very, very quickly,” which has a high social cost.
Glenn Stanton, a Colorado Springs, Colorado, researcher for the conservative group Focus on the Family, told the committee that he believes married people are healthier and happier than their unwed peers and the social cost of divorce to the Kansas is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
“The impact of family strength and decline is not just a moral issue or a traditional issue. It is a civil well-being issue,” Stanton said.
With marriage clearly framed as a civil responsibility, conservatives look at ways to change the way Divorce happens as a next order of business.
Is testimony proceeded, conservative advocates compared couples seeking divorce to criminals, and noted that aversion programs have been successful elsewhere.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/...
Teresa Collett, a professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, who advocates for tighter abortion restrictions and conservative causes, said it is possible to drop divorce rates through “marriage reforms.” She testified that a counseling program in Ramsey County, Minnesota, which she compared to diverting criminals to treatment rather than prison time, was a success in getting some couples to reconsider divorce.
The state contends that maybe a look at marriage reforms might be appropriate, and these could include: court mandated "cooling off" periods, and mandated counseling.
In testimony today, those who believe in statutory changes argued that they weren't necessarily for required counseling, but couldn't quite settle in on saying it would be a bad idea.
With so much social responsibility and need to remain married, if for no other reason to make sure that the state and others have less need to take care of you - why wouldn't you stay married.
Kansas continues it's 2 day marriage information panel tomorrow in the State and Federal committee.