War On Weddings in South Dakota Senate

Republicans (?) are at it again (still).

Image result for weeping bride

In it’s infinite wisdom, the Republican controlled South Dakota Senate just voted for a 50% increase in the cost of a marriage license, from $40.00 to $60.00.

Maybe you think that’s just a “little” deal.  Maybe you should look a little closer.

It may have been a well intentioned bill SB93), but it seems to me to be a classic example of elected officials meddling when they should leave well enough alone.  Really… do we need the government to CHARGE newlyweds if they don’t attend state prescribed counseling?  Hardly.  Do we need this kind of LAW that creates even more red tape and bureaucracy?  I don’t think so.  That would have placed me in the minority if I were still in the South Dakota Senate.  Enough Republicans joined the Democrats to pass it 20-15.  See how YOUR Senator Voted.  I am thankful that MY Senator and some other conservative Republicans were on the right side, voting “no”.

Read it for yourself:

  FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to revise certain provisions regarding marriage license fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
    Section 1. That § 25-1-10 be amended to read:
    25-1-10. Previous to any marriage within this state, a license shall be obtained from the county register of deeds of any county, the fee for which the license is forty sixty dollars. Ten However, if the applicants for the license complete at least twelve hours of premarital education, the fee for the license is forty dollars. Thirty dollars of the marriage license fee shall be retained by the county in which the fee is collected and placed in the county general fund. Thirty dollars of the marriage license fee shall be deposited in the county domestic abuse program fund. The license and record of marriage form shall be prescribed and furnished by the Department of Health. Certified copies of the marriage record shall be furnished by the county register of deeds for a fee established pursuant to § 34-25-52 and such. The fee shall be retained by the county in which the fee is collected and placed in the county general fund.
    Section 2. That chapter 25-1 be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:


    In order to qualify for the reduced license fee, pursuant to section 1 of this Act, the applicants for a license submit a signed and dated statement from the person who provided the premarital education confirming that the education was completed. A licensed or ordained minister, a designee of a licensed or ordained minister, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under § 25-1-30, or a person authorized to practice marriage and family therapy under § 36-33-9 shall provide the premarital education. The education shall include the use of a premarital inventory and the teaching of communication and conflict management skills.
    Section 3. That chapter 25-1 be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
    The person who provided the premarital education under this Act shall include in the statement required by section 2 of this Act, the name of the educator and the legal names of the applicants for a license receiving the education. The legal names of the applicants in the educator’s statement must be identical to the legal names of the applicants as they appear in the marriage license application. The statement shall confirm that the applicants received at least twelve hours of premarital education and that the education included a premarital inventory and the teaching of communication and conflict management skills. The statement shall state whether the educator is a licensed or ordained minister, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under § 25-1-30, or a person authorized to practice marriage and family therapy under § 36-33-9.

The Republican controlled South Dakota Senate has also voted to increase other taxes and fees (doubling some), as well as voting AGAINST the repeal of at least one other tax increase.  It isn’t anything new.  During the Rounds and Daugaard administrations, taxes and spending have increased by HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars.  Along with the Republican majority, they have been successful in the kind of governance that caused America to elect Donald Trump as President.

The taxpaying, voting public is sick and tired of too much government,  too much taxation and too much spending.  They have grown weary of Republicans and Democrats who continue to make government larger, more cumbersome and confusing as well as more intrusive.

Still, many South Dakotans believe these Senators are just “doing the people’s business”.

***Gordon Howie is an author and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***

Gordon“It’s not about right or left, it’s about Right or Wrong.”

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