Twogetherness With Warren Chisum

OK. I've been wondering about this. Remember how Warren Chisum injected government into people's private lives last session with his "Twogetherness in Texas" law? (yes, it really is called that). Here's an update (from startlegram, emphasis mine):

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. [---]

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.

Oh, man. Warren can't get a break. He learned he's out as Appropriations Chair and now this? People are just not showing WC the love! And, with Valentine's Day tomorrow. The day all divorced people shout "hallelujah!, I'm not married to that jerk anymore!"

But that's not stopping our Caped "My Morality is Better Than Your Morality" Crusader:

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.

This is just plain silly as a parenting course is ALREADY REQUIRED in most Texas counties before you can get a divorce in Texas.

I'd be a little more sympathetic to his concerns, if he'd get on his pretty pony and champion children's health care, education, and lower cost of living for families. It's not like there are not burning issues in front of the Legislature and everyone has the luxury of twiddling thumbs and making stuff up to keep themselves busy.

I've written about what a dumb idea the "Twogetherness" legislation was. I asked that it have some accountability built in - a requirement that it be reviewed based on data. Looks like the data is in, and Texans have soundly rejected Chisum getting involved in private, adult (painful) decisions.