Does Texas Hate Marriage?

Recently proposed by Texas House of Representatives Republican Warren Chisum is a wonderful new bill: bilk you for divorce. Chisum's bright idea is that a couple take a 10-hour course with a marriage counselor, even if the couple is filing a no fault divorce. With marriage counselors costing up to $200 an hour, married couples trying to end their marriage quickly and cleanly would add an extra $2000 to the cost of divorce. Chisum claims, "If we can save a few marriages, and I think we can save more than a few, but if we can save a few, it's worth our effort." What makes it the government's right to meddle in personal affairs even further? Even using the flawed statistic the media gives of a 45% divorce rate in the U.S., what gives the government the right to force a "marriage course" on couples who may not even be able to afford it?

It was my understanding that the only time a government can dictate what you do with your time is if you've committed a crime; is divorce now a crime? Sure, the bill tries to eschew this ranconian requirement for abused spouses, but documentation is required. This means the abused spouse would still have to cough up funds if they haven't filed prior police reports or protective orders.

Two years ago, Texas hiked up their marriage license from $30 to $100. Our friend Chisum had tried at that time to slide in his marriage-counseling requirement, and was shot down. Showing a wonderful personality, Chisum was quoted as replying, "I would suggest if you don't have $100, folks shouldn't get married." Are there really that many marriage counselors lobbying out there?