A Kansas House committee has started two days of informational hearings on marriage. Lawmakers heard testimony saying marriage improves health, the lives of kids and the state’s bottom line. As Stephen Koranda reports, the hearing could lead to legislation making it more difficult to get divorced.
Republican Representative Steve Brunk says the hearing confirmed his belief that marriage offers real benefits. He says now the question is: should lawmakers take an action to try to keep marriages intact?
“I don’t know whether it’s to have some counseling. In Kansas, you can get a divorce very, very quickly, other states have a year, some two-year waiting periods,” says Brunk.
But Democrat Valdenia Winn points out that some of the information presented is decades old. She says the hearing was slanted to one side of the issue.
“I believe there’s an agenda. Now, I want to know the agenda openly so we can debate it. And if there’s legislation we’re leaning towards, let’s look at it now,” says Winn.
The hearing will continue today.
