Texas Marriage Bill Gets Iffy 'I Do' From Lawmaker
By Tom Miller. Posted on .
From The Houston Chronicle
By Polly Ross Hughes
AUSTIN — Lovebirds wishing to tie the knot would pay $100 for a marriage license under a bill the Texas House tentatively passed Wednesday, unless they took a prenuptial class on how to behave as a spouse.
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Before the 78-63 vote, furor among Democrats and rebellious Republicans over the marriage fee hike prompted the bill's author to promise he'll merely double the current $30 fee before a final vote today. Applicants taking the classes would get free marriage licenses.
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Even with final House approval, though, the bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where it must find a sponsor to get a floor debate.
Tango’s Take
Tango has long felt that it is too easy to get married. And the Texas legislature has driven a stake into the ground. Texans had better get into some premarital class or else. Or else they will have to pay $100. This had to give serious heartburn to the Texas Republicans. “Do we take a modest measure to strengthen marriage (and possibly violate some civil liberties here and there) or do we let ‘em keep their 100 bucks?” Well, pre-wedding relationship classes have never hurt anyone and an extra $100 will be a nice wedding gift from the Lone Star State. Let’s hope that they provide subsidies for these classes.
