Ban divorce? Ballot effort gets OK to gather signatures

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen today authorized the backer of an initiative that would ban divorce to begin collecting signatures to put the proposed constitutional amendment before voters.

John Marcotte now has until March 22, 2010, to collect 694,354 signatures of registered voters in order to get the measure on the ballot next year. The proposal would change the California Constitution to "eliminate the ability of married couples to get divorced in California."

Couples could still get their marriages annulled under the proposal.

Here is the official text of the initiative:

ELIMINATES THE LAW ALLOWING MARRIED COUPLES TO DIVORCE. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Changes the California Constitution to eliminate the ability of married couples to get divorced in California. Preserves the ability of married couples to seek an annulment. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Savings to the state of up to hundreds of millions of dollars annually for support of the court system due to the elimination of divorce proceedings.

--Jessica Garrison

Comments

[FlagDoc]

Brilliant!

[Kenny]

Is this a joke? Sounds like an example of some moron pushing his moral agenda and I can only shake my head at his chez-pah!

[jeff crook]

I will sign. It will make people think long and hard about getting married

[Carroll Straus]

And this makes sense because...?? And it is new because...??? Not enough blood, slow news day?

[Rob]

Hip Hip Hurray!!!!! End the divorce madness so people can get on with their lives and we can all quit making attorneys rich.

[a.m]

wow. that is the dumbest thing ever.

[Jim Craft]

Another thinly veiled attempt by the religious right to cram their sense of morality down our throats. Not that I think that divorce is a good thing, but it certainly should be the right of any married couple to be divorced if necessary.

[American1776]

I have been voting since 1966 and I have seem some pretty ridiculous and stupid props. on the ballet over the years but, this one gets the brASS ring. There needs to be a special award for the stupidest prop. in Ca. history. I Nominate this one. I just wonder what kind of nut will actually sign the petitions to get this thing on the ballet. Can you imagine being forced, by the State no less, to stay married to someone you can't stand the sight of? Wonder if we will get a prop. making murdering your spouse, that you can't divorce, legal!!

[Ed Dart]

I'll bet he doesn't even get the signatures to put in on the ballot. I'm Mormon and even we believe in divorce.

[Melony Faucett]

That is completely wrong!!!!!!!!!! I am a divorcee and there is no way that my ex-husband would have agreed to an anullment. It is my right to file for divorce and if the public wants to save so much money, then why don't we inforce stricter laws for the parents who do not pay their child support?! That would save the state billions!!!!!!! I am not given child support and right now, my ex is getting away with it. The most that has occured is that his license was suspended and HE won't even go to jail for driving on a suspended license or for not paying for his child!!!! If you the voter wants to save the state money, how about enforcing laws that do not permit the other parent to get away scott free for lack of payments! OR volunteer in your local communities as a crossing guard or at your local kidsclub. Wake up!!!!!! Divorce is the only thing that saved me and my daughter. Do not take our rights away for money.

[sheryl mettler]

I do believe that people should have the right under circumstances (domestic violence,spouse leaves,adultery,etc.) to be able to choose divorce. I have had 2 divorces myself, however the man I am with now, although we have had rocky roads behind us, I believe it is to easy to just get a divorce and walk away from a commitment that 2 people share and have children with. It is the resoponsibility of both parties to be mature, reasonable and get couns for the family if that is what it takes. If at that time they split, well don't expect that the goverment will just take care of your kids and wife while you run off and play or work under the table. More important don't be upset with your family over all the petty material stuff and drag out yrs of divorce and alimony,child support because one will get more than the other. That should be thought of before you say I do. I do means forever!!!!!!!!!! not until I'm tired!!! I think the change for the California law is a good idea!!!!!

[GayManforTraditionalValues]

Ban divorce? Absolutely, and I cannot wait to see the Mormons and Catholics and fundamentalist Christians sign on to this. Not to mention all the other religious and ethnic groups that supported proposition 8.

Marriage should never have been re-defined to make divorce acceptable or even legal. That redefinition argument cuts both ways. I hope Mr. Obama signs on to it as well. Cheers!

[David Wayne]

Ban divorces? No way, the divorce lawyers would have to find an honest job.

[Yolanda Martinez Weis]

This is a joke.

[Chicka]

Because obviously annulments are free.

[Ken]

Ban marriage and we would not have any divorce.

[lisa]

you have to crazy. nobody has the right to force two people to stay married. The government has no right to interfere if that is the life you want move to another country

[JesMe]

Bravo! It'll never pass of course. But I want all of those mofo's who supported Prop 8 in order to "protect" marriage and the family to cop to the fact that they are a bunch of hypocritical liars, even if only to themselves. Can't let those homos destroy marriage, but we reserve the right to do it ourselves.

[Joseph D. Phillips]

OK by me, if we ban marriage, too.

[Tiff]

Hell.No. That's personal rights being taken away. First gay marriage and now married couples.
WTF.

No.

[Scott]

this is great, and is apparently giving fundamentalists a taste of their own medicine. apparently it's okay, the Bible says homosexuality is not okay, but the Bible comments a lot more that divorce is bad. so let's honor your beliefs and ban divorce.

[IRENE REVA]

BAN MARRIAGE AND THAT PRECEEDS BANNING DIVORCE.
SO MUCH HISTORICAL/MYSTICAL/ROMANTICAL SHOULD DO
STUFF (CRAP). LET US ALL PICK AND CHOOSE AND
GROW AND CHANGE AND EVOLVE.......BLACK, BROWN, WHITE, GAY, STRAIGHT,NON SEXUAL, CUTE, UGLY,
YOUNG, OLD..........YOU GET THE DRIFT.

[Ally]

I certainly won't sign that. Perhaps people should just not rush into a marriage, in the first place ...

[Mikey]

What if we just banned marriage? Then there wouldn't be any divorces, either.

[KW]

Brilliant!

[Tannim]

May we laugh? May we cry?

Or may we simply sign?

This one needs signatures to get on the ballot folks, because it serves one and only one purpose: to tell the Prop 8 folks that if they are so pro-marriage, then they better support this or be labeled hypocrites and homophobes, and in the process totally destroying their arguments.

So by all means, let's get this on the ballot and make the Prop 8 folks squirm!

[JESSY]

WHAT THE HELL!???!? First they tell men and women that they can't marry someone of the same gender, and now they want to make it so that people can't get a divorce? Where the hell is this damn state going? Why does society all of a sudden want to be able to tell people how to live their damn lives? That is horrible, and I hope, if they DO get enough signatures, those who sign it screw themselves over by not being able to get a divorce later.

[WhyIWantoleaveCA]

This is totally ridiculous. Instead of trying to save money in court by banning divorce, why don't they ban moronic court proceedings caused by people who want to sue drive through fast food places because they spill hot coffee on their own laps while driving, or the criminals in prisions who want to sue their victims, or how about the one where the couple tried to sue the movie studios because the movie made them want to go on a crime spree, and a host of other idiots who have this entitlement mentality, or just are sue happy? These cases should never even go to court. If they ban divorce, I bet anything that the domestic violence will increase and there will be more people killing their spouses claiming some abuse excuse and getting away with murder. Ban divorce? Ban these stupid politicians. We have enough laws on the books already. Get rid of the outdated laws, like the law that makes it illegal for anyone to try to stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water. If our lawmakers want to have job security, then maybe they should sit down and go through the lawbooks and throw out the outdated laws. Then after that ~ Look for another job, because actually... They themselves are outdated.

[HappyCalifornian]

How wonderful it would be if this passed! Divorced people are ruining the world by destroying families.

[Geoff]

Geez-don't these people have anything else to do other than try and dictate how we are suppose to live our lives? What happened to individual choice and freedoms! Don't get me wrong, I feel that marriage takes alot of work and commitment, but if it isn't ment to be....move on! And to the idiot that came up with this one..I DON'T NEED YOU LEGISLATING MY LIFE FOR ME, I have a brain of my own and can decide things for myself!

[AG]

This has to be a joke. I wonder how many folks who voted to "protect marriage" are going to back this proposal? I want a side by side comparison. Make it happen LA Times!

[joanne]

Okay, I give up. Where has this neanderthal been all his live? What does he suggest as an alternative for two people who can no longer live together?

[Lilly of the Valley]

It's really pathetic when politicians concoct stupid legislation instead of addressing real issues. Vote these morons out.

[Steve]

Every good Christian should sign this petition. Divorce is against Gods law.

[JEFFERY P. SEGALL, RN]

Sounds great to me! We won't allow gays to marry so why should straights be allowed to divorce? Seems like a great way to preserve the sanctity of marriage!

Let's go national! Just think, then great christian family-values men like Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani couldn't get multiple divorces!

[Erwin Speakman]

Terrific. Next up, a ban on coughing in public (to prevent the spread of disease); a ban on night driving after 9pm, except for licensed night workers (to prevent drive-by shootings, robbberies and general skulking); a ban on television after 9pm to ensure a full night's sleep and encourage family time); and finally a ban on marriage, co-habitation and community property (eliminating the marriage license bureau and a large number of civil lawsuits, freeing the court for other cases.)

Later, we can attack left turns, large vehicles a driver can't see through to observe the road ahead, speeds over 45mph, cell phone use in public, bad news in newspapers and on radio and TV. I'm sure there's more, such as repealing the First Amendment so I can't rant against the narrow-minded politicians and citizens who push their personal agendas making a mockery of the legal process and the initiative process.

[Mark]

Where do I sign up? I'm gay and I don't like the fact that opposite-sex married couples are allowed to divorce, so I think I should have a right to make it illegal.

I'm just adopting the Prop. 8 attitude. :)

[markiejoe]

Excellent idea.

Now if they'd eliminate marriage, we'd be good to go.

[Catherine]

Please tell me this is a joke. I divorced my ex-husband because he was a financially irresponsible train wreck. I made the choice to raise our son financially on my own. Simple - feed the ex or feed the son. I chose feed the son. If I couldn't have filed for divorce I would still be financially responsible for the ex? Right.
And our Ca tax dollars pay for Debra Brown. I think I should finally move out of this state. This is just plain crazy.

[Jamie J.]

I hope that everyone who voted for the "sanctity of marriage" votes for this one.

[Eric Bressler]

This wingnut will probably drop enough cash to get it on the ballot where it will get crushed by more than 60 points. My prediction, 82% against, 18% for.

[bob]

AWESOME!
I'll sign for it.

if some people can't get married, NO ONE can get divorced!

Ha!
it's a fate worse than death!

[Grapes]

Protect traditional marriage. Ban divorce!

[TomTallis]

I want to get one of those petitions and gather signatures in front of Our Lady of the Angels and the Mormon Temple on Santa Monica Blvd. I should collect hundreds and hundreds of signatures there...

[Jose O.]

Im voting yes. The biggest threat to marriage is divorce not gay marriage.

I wonder what the YES ON 8 people have to say about this hopefully they feel a little bit hypocritical.

Plus divorce preceding are so annoying maybe this would make them faster and more = between both sexes male and female and maybe male male or female female.

But i dont think voters would approve this measure even though if you think about it its more simple..

[Bonnie Russell]

Why does this read like a political move from the Las Vegas Tourist Bureau, where the "Little Wedding Chapel" is located? Not to mention the Family Law Section of the Nevada State Bar. : )

Jokes aside, in this economy men aren't divorcing their wives. They're killing them - and the kids, too.

[Melissa]

Are they freaking joking!? People get married because they love each other and want kids. Sometimes people just fall out of love and cant help it. I'm just guessing here but I think this might be backed mostly by religious people. If people cant have the option to get divorced then they will just have "bastard" children and not get married.
If the gay community cant even get married then why should the straight community have this restriction? Marriage is between two people. Not 2 people, the government, the other Californian people, and anyone else who wants to butt in. What happened to Land of the Free?

[Bonnie Russell]

In this economy, men aren't divorcing their wives, they're killing them - and the kids, too.

And by the way, this includes the police, too. See the "Bad Cop" section.

[Chris Brown]

I have to say that I really like the idea....I can't beleive that I would. I am a very liberal kind of guy - but I have seen far to many people that do not think before they get married. THis would make them think. Then again I could just be single and bitter (probably more likely).

[dean]

Another magnificent example of how totally stupid California's ballot initiative measures are. It really doesn't matter if Marcotte gets enough signatures or not, it's the downright foolishness which the initiative allows. We must have a constitutional rewrite which will eliminate the ballot initiative once and for all.

[julie]

sick.

[Against Hypocrisy]

I hope this initiative gets placed on the ballot, it's about time! All I hear from the homophobes who are against gays getting married is that marriage is "sacred". Let's see how fast they will rally to support this proposal to protect a "sacred" institution, one that they so readily want to deny to one particular group of people.

[Jim]

Amen! Jesus said clearly that divorce is wrong. Let's all work hard to get this passed so that everyone in California will follow the law of the LORD.

[Alex]

Of course you won't see this becoming law as the people who voted on Prop 8 are a bunch of hypocrites.

[Nikki]

Excellent use of resources. Really, the biggest problem our state faces is divorce, right? Also good to spend time, effort, money and paper and ink to put an initiative on the ballot that has zero chance of winning. Great. Great thinking there. (/end heavy sarcasm)

[John Muller]

That is ridiculous, where is our state headed? Don't our congressmen have better things to do than try to ban marriage? Really??

[Dirk]

I'll sign it. What great idea.

Let's see the 'sanctity of marriage' crowd go silent on this issue.

[Blithe]

Say no to the evangelical conservative agenda to hijack the California government. We need to take a stand and stop the right wing-sponsored government encroachment into citizens' private lives. First, they mandate who private citizens can and can't marry; now, they wish to take away private citizens' choice to divorce.

Democrats and Republicans need to realize that the religious right is not not the voice of the people, but the voice of the few seeking to impose their will upon the majority. Democrats need to make it abundantly clear that tolerance is the order of the day. Republicans need to realize that to continue courting the religious right is to betray the core Republican value of less government and more individualism.

To let these people usurp the legitimacy of the democratic Republic of California is to establish a totalitarian state indistinguishable from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Soviet Russia, and the Third Reich; it is a slap in the face to our Founding Fathers.

Say no today to government intrusion into the arena of private life. Say yes to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let this be a call to arms for all Californians and Americans.

[Edie Bex]

Divorce hurts the sanctity of marriage. If you're against gay marriage, you should also be against heterosexual divorce. To be otherwise is hypocritical.

[apple1]

It would be interesting to get the backstory on this initiative. Who's behind it; who's financing it; when did the petition drive start. Why has it received so little attention from the media?

[apple1]

I apologize. I rushed through the article without giving it a good read first. A second read, and clicking on the link would have been a good idea before making the first post.

[Tom]

This has got to be some sort of joke. You can't force two people to stay married. If they want to REALLY accomplish something meaningful and just, end the constant and persistent victimization and exploitation of men in the California courts by eliminating the concept of marital community property or allow infidelity as a cause for termination of a marriage, with loss of rights to property acquired during the marriage, alimony, and child custody privileges for the one found to have engaged in infidelity.

[Coach]

A great idea, with a few additions. Add pre marriage counceling before marriage, make adultery illegal and make that (adultery the only cause for divorce.

[davevanfunk]

Are you kidding???

[Ambergris]

This guy is more than a few blocks off Main Street. His elevator isn't making it to the top floor. The kiln wasn't hot enough when God fired him...

Shaking my head...

[Tara C Woods]

I will actually vote in favor of this. It will press the legal point of Prop 8 being nothing more than a religiously driven withholding of basic rights. If gays can't marry because it offends some people's religion, it makes perfect sense that the rest of us can't divorce because it offends religious beliefs.

[James]

Unconstitutional. Freedom of religion means I don't have to follow your asinine religious ideas.

[ryan]

Bet anyone $20 that those pro-Prop 8 people so bent on preserving the "sanctity of marriage" wouldn't dare vote for this initiative.

I'd be willing to sign this guy's petition to find out.

[ryan]

Bet anyone $20 that those pro-Prop 8 people so bent on preserving the "sanctity of marriage" wouldn't dare vote for this initiative.

I'd be willing to sign this guy's petition to find out.

[SoCal Baseball Lover]

LA Dodgers' owners Jaime and/or Frank McCourt better hurry up.

[JackofNoTrades]

Another reason I'm happy I escaped California. Is everyone losing their minds?

[Jennifer Mavens]

Don't these lawmakers have anything better to do with their time? It's time to flush congress NOW...

[Karen]

I'm all for saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars, but how, exactly, would division of assets and child custody issues be addressed? What is the alternative plan?

[DorothyDee]

It sounds like a mighty nice gesture and quite a romantic notion, but honestly I doubt if this would ever pass after one thinks about. Getting an annulment in California isn't easily granted either. Good luck though. :O

[Jay]

Praise the Lord! It's about time that the half of our citizens who wish to "protect the sanctity of marriage" put their money with their mouths have been. [wink wink]. Alas, this initiative will go down in not-so-proverbial flames and the "pious" and "righteous" can spend Sunday explaining their hypocrisy to God.

[Matthew James]

Every church in California should back this proposed proposition. Marriage is sacred. Remember?

[G Weiss]

No Lawyers abusing spouses and children!
Too Good To Be True!!
Just maybe there is a G_D!

ANNULMENT - A legal decree that states that a marriage was never valid. Has the legal effect of wiping out a marriage as though it never existed.

[Matthew James]

It will be interesting to see if conservative groups and church organizations will support this measure. Looks like a pretty good way to protect the sanctity of marriage.

[Richard Ivey]

It's about time.

[Rumpole Bailey]

This change to the state constitution is OUTSTANDING.

Banning divorce reinforces "traditional" marriage. Those that voted "yes" for Prop 8 - those who believe in "traditional" marriage and the sanctity of marriage - should also turn out in droves for this change to our constitution. If you really believe that a marriage is sacred, you'll want to protect marriage in all ways - not just those that are most convenient.

[EFFFY]

Yes, let's do this! Protect MARRIAGE!

[Aaron Daniels]

Why doesn't this current bit of stupidity surprise me? Instead of looking at the excesses in government, some idiot proposes a scheme that won't help anything in the financial situation in the People's Republik of Kalifornia. Instead of going after divorces, why doesn't Bowen look at the waste in the unnecessary social programs that have really bankrupted the state hundreds of times over? But then, that would be too logical and too intelligent and the state legislature wouldn't understand it. The reason being that the socialist mental state of the legislature just can't grasp the fact that all of their social programs and pork spending is the REAL cause of the state's financial problems.

[Mens Rights Activist]

Wow, this is great! Different than my own proposal, but lets go.

[RambleonGirl]

Finally! maybe now people will take marriage seriously in California. A husband or wife is not like a new pair of pants, once they get a little worn you toss them out.I'm no saint because I'm divorced and it caused me a great deal of pain. I was young and had tunnel vision. If there was a law in place to ban divorce before I got married I would have really looked closely at the relationship and realized it was not strong enough to withhold a long term marriage.

I think a law like this will make people really thing over what they are deciding. Love is a great thing but when the honeymoon is over the new lighting over the relationship can really suck. Less children will be raised in broken homes and I just think overall people will take the sacrament of marriage so much more seriously...as it was originally intended.

[Rex Howen]

Undoubtedly, the coalitions that came together to save marriage in California (Yes on Prop 8) will wholeheartedly be in support of this ballot initiative. Any other position would be in direct oppostion to their stated goals of protecting marriage and the family unit.

[Gary]

If the "right" have their way, this will be the norm. Standby more to come.

[SAM]

This is absurd. What we should do is have EVERY couple negotiate a pre-nup agreement BEFORE they get married, setting the terms of a possible divorce (child custody, support and visitation, division of assets, alimony, et al.) on the front end. Those negotiations would be so eye-opening to both parties that they'd either enter the marriage with a realistic view of who they're marrying, or they'd be sad -- yet grateful -- that they avoided making a big mistake. That would reduce the divorce rate better than inflicting the tyrannic yoke of law enforcement on already-miserable people. Mr. Taliban -- uh, er, Marcotte -- should go to jail for wasting so much of his time on the notion that the government can engineer people's passions and desires. How's that Drug War goin'?

[Thomas]

Who in the world is behind this insane initiative. The initiative process is out of control.

[kvk1111]

Gee, I wonder if the Prop 8 proponents will rally behind this? I think not. If they believe marriage between a man and woman is so sacred they would.

[steven]

yes, protect marriage!

[Not Crazy]

What a joke. Let's spend our time and money on global warming or something collective. Live and let live - you Nut cases

[Hairy Carrion]

Swell. This stinks of theocracy.

Why don't they just ban marriage for everyone, instead? Or better yet, just put everyone in prison.

Really freakin' stupid.

[Irving Leemon]

The proposed ban on divorce in this state is totally wrong headed. I guess the Catholic Church will never stop trying to re make the government of this country in its own image.. The Church does such a great job of looking out for human rights and dignity. We don't have to look any further then Mexico and countries South of there. O, I almost forgot the "religious" zealots who claim to be Christians and believe in the teachings of their god, but, unlike Him, are not forgiving, tolerant, or understanding of other people's beliefs.

[Eddie Tucker]

Probably the same bunch that complains about government interference in personal liberties. Idiots.

[rsbear]

Gets my vote. We need to "protect" marriage. If straight people won't let gay people get married because it "hurts" marriage, then straight people getting divorced certainly hurts marriage. Only seems fair.

[Debbie]

What is up with California? Have we socially regressed back into the 1950's?

[Nick]

I know all the Mormon's and Catholics will be rushing to sign this petition. I mean... they do say they want to protect marriage. Right Mormons/Catholics? And with savings in the hundreds of millions fiscal conservatives should be excited to support this amendment as well. Why should everyone who successfully manages their marriage have to pay for those who can't keep it together. Personal responsibility!!!!

[Ken]

Go for it. No skin off my nose. In fact, it will protect me, since divorce financially punishes men who earn more than their wives, which is MOST.

Whether or not there is divorce in no way changes the fact that marriage unites a bride and a groom, and anything else is not marriage, no matter what state licenses are issued.

[MJ]

god bless this man..fight the good fight sir!

[SB]

I think this very dangerous. What about women in abusive marriages - to make it illegal for them to get a divorce is very troubling.