Senate votes for pre-marital counseling bill

Senators last night voted 25-to-24 in favor of a bill that would let couples who undergo pre-marital counseling get a cheaper marriage license. One Senator has resigned, though, and there’s a question of whether the bill needs 26 or 25 votes to pass the 50-member Senate. If the bill becomes law, couples who do not go through pre-marital counseling would have to wait 30 days after applying for a wedding license, and pay 50 bucks for that license. Those who DO undergo counseling would only pay 20 bucks, and could be married in three days. The bill had its critics, like Democrat Senator Matt McCoy of Des Moines. He says he objects to the price differential, as he says counseling should be a choice, and to charge them extra is a joke.Republican Senator Neil Schuerer of Amana had hoped for a stronger bill that made it tougher to divorce, as he said most divorces are the man’s fault.Schuerer cried when he said men have a tendency to run when things get tough.