This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Dec. 10, 2009 - State Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon, continues to make news with her weekly newsletters. In her latest edition, she lays out her pre-filed bill that would make it more difficult for couples to divorce in Missouri, especially if one partner wants to stay married.
Davis also questions why a portion ($27) of the marriage license fee paid in Missouri goes to child abuse and domestic violence shelters. Her bill would drop that portion if the engaged couple undergoes premarital counseling.
"Why should the innocent citizens who are doing something honorable, moral and foundational to our civilization be forced to pay for the damage caused by those who are behaving dishonorably?" Davis asked.
Her bill, called “Marriage Matters in Missouri," also would allow people who file for divorce to get their fee back if they change their minds within a year. "If the couple decides to reconcile, they should be able to get a refund," she said.
Most significantly, Davis' bill would "take Missouri from being one of 49 'No Fault Divorce' states to being a 'Mutual Consent' state. The effect would make it more difficult to get a divorce if the husband or wife objects.
"If there are children in the home and if one of the parents doesn’t want a divorce, we must modify our 'no fault' provisions for the sake of those children," Davis said. "We need to raise the bar a little higher to compensate for the economic, emotional and academic hardships borne by the children when their parents dissolve their stability...."
Overall, Davis contends that her bill would cut Missouri's divorce rate in half. She cites various commentators who blame the nation's 50 percent divorce rate on people being "too self-absorbed."
