Bill would make it tougher to untie the knot

A bill making it harder for some couples to get divorced will be considered by a Senate Committee next week. The bill sets up a “covenant marriage” in which a couple agrees to undergo 12 hours of pre-marital counseling, and another 12 hours of counseling if they decide to divorce. Senator Neal Schuerer, a republican from Amana, is a bill sponsor. Schuerer says in a “covenant marriage” couples get help when times get tough. Schuerer says the bill will strengthen the commitment of marriage. Senator Mark Shearer, a democrat from Washington, opposes the bill. Shearer says the bill penalizes couples for failures in marriage. Under Iowa’s “no-fault” divorce law, a couple can quickly divorce in about 90 days, without citing any circumstances. The “covenant marriage” bill must be approved by the Senate Human Resources Committee next week, or it’s dead for the year.