In honor of Valentine's Day, we decided to dim the lights, turn on some Barry White and see how the "Twogether in Texas" government program has been faring.
The program with the atrocious spelling doubled the state fee for a marriage license from $30 to $60 starting on Sept. 1. Couples that take an eight-hour premarital counseling class get the fee waived but still pay the local fee, which in Tarrant County is $11.
Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, pushed the program through in the last session, arguing that encouraging couples to take these classes would cut the divorce rate. Critics call it a marriage tax.
Even with the higher license fee, few are bothering with the classes so far. In Tarrant County, of roughly 5,000 couples that filed for wedding licenses since September, about 140 received the discount, according to the local clerk's office.
Statewide, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission reports 602 licenses that received the waiver as of Thursday, according to a spokesperson.
But Chisum isn't done with his campaign for couples counseling. He's filed another bill this session that would require most married couples with a child take a "crisis marriage education course" before a judge could approve a divorce.
(Note: Despite the mass cringing of proofreaders, teachers and copy editors, no one has yet filed a bill to fix the spelling on Twogether In Texas.)
-Aman Batheja
unbelievable. government intervention in a marriage should not be permissable in this country.
i couuld grant that the government has an interest in lowering divorce rates, but what part of the constitution would permit such interference with our most intimate relationships? none that i can see.
anyone remember terri schiavo? why is it that the theocrat wing of the republican party is so obsessed with meddling and regulating our personal lives? if they believe in small government, then start by keeping it out of our marriages.
Posted by: annatopia | February 14, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Now we're not smart enough to pick our mates. I wonder how long it will be before the government is denying marriages based upon their requirements.
Posted by: JR | February 15, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I think this program is a great idea! Of course, my church requires pre-marital counseling for every single marriage so it's not a big deal to me. And the state does have in interest in seeing marriages succeed since they always have the potential for producing children and intact families are good for the children. What's good for the children is ultimately good for the country in the long run.
Posted by: LisaMarie | February 16, 2009 at 07:07 AM
The govenment should stay out of marriages. Period.
The government should stay out of pre and post marriage arrangements as well. Period.
Posted by: GC | February 16, 2009 at 10:31 AM
To LisaMarie,
That's wonderful that your church does that and that is exactly where marriage counseling and agreements belong, in the choosing of the individual. What the government is doing here is essentially taxing our freedom. If we want to marry without the states guidance then we have to pay. Who pays for this class? Does the marrying couple pay for it, there's another tax. Is it paid for by the state? Well, then you and I are being taxed for it. This is so wrong.
Posted by: JR | February 16, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Government in Texas has already told some citizens that they can't marry. Remember its Gay people that are supposedly ruining marriage, not divorce. Maybe the government should restrict straight people from marrying so they can stop blaming Gay people. You should be taxed until all citizens have the same rights. If you don't like what your representatives are doing get involved politically. Blogs don't solve problems!
Posted by: Me | February 16, 2009 at 09:27 PM
Maybe the name of the program is a play on words. "Two" (as in two people).
I hope so. If this was an ignorant mistake, then someone should take a spelling class and forget trying to dictate classes for others.
Posted by: Book_Woman | February 17, 2009 at 08:25 AM
Relationship is all about the trust, so the main thing is to gain trust of your partner. But the problem is that not all the spouses are that much knowledgeable, decent and understandable to handle the little or bigger issues. There is many cost effective marriage saving programs provided by the some qualified and best marriage counselors will assist you to construct your communication skills to help out to save your marriage relationship, but somebody with a terrible experience may not confer you this instruction. Find more information about this helpful cost effective marriage saving programs and best marriage counselors of this site.
http://www.marriage-counselors.net/
Posted by: Marriage Counselors | August 08, 2009 at 03:57 AM