This is absolutely mind boggling. Does anyone actually check what is written before it is being voted on? What are the taxpayers getting for their money? If this is an example, not much. Time for an audit.
What am I babbling about? Arkansas has accidentally passed a piece of legislation that allows anyone, even toddlers, to be married.
The bill reads: "In order for a person who is younger than eighteen (18) years of age and who is not pregnant to obtain a marriage license, the person must provide the county clerk with evidence of parental consent to the marriage."
The problem lies in that not highlighted above. The intent of the bill was to set the minimum age for marriage at age unless someone is pregnant, then with parental approval they could marry the other person. Alas Rep. Will Bond, the sponsor, nor anyone else noticed the typo before it became law. When the goof was spotted, a committee fixed it but some legislators say this is not a typographical error and want the legislature to fix it. So now Arkansas is pondering a special session to correct this goof.
No comment from Bill Clinton on this latest misadventure from his home state. And to extropolate, the US Congress also enacts bad or poorly worded law on occasion. The RICO law that is hanging over Michael Vick is a classic example, its original intent was to go after the Mafia but it was so broadly written that any money making criminal enterprise falls into its sphere - even House Representatives on the take can fall victim to RICO. Just more reasons why government is NOT the answer, its infested with humans.
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