Imagine: The elementary school is hosting the annual Fall Festival. This year, instead of kids riding the greased pig or fishing in the duck pond for a small prize, they get to roll dice and bet on a color or a number. They might opt, instead, to play Texas Hold’em; after all, if they didn’t get a poker set for their birthday, they’ve seen them in stores from Wal-Mart to Stein Mart. What’s the big deal? As you walk through the festivities, you hear a couple arguing about how much money to give to each of their three children. You know these people are not married, but they’ve lived together for 15 years. They don’t care who knows their situation. They tell people they’re common-law married, but they file taxes individually and they maintain separate bank accounts. These parents are passing on a legacy of false hope and irresponsibility.
Joe MackThis scenario touches two huge issues we’ve been dealing with at the State House: gambling and common-law marriage. The two are not always linked together, but this example could have included your neighbors had we not killed a gambling bill in the Senate a few weeks ago by a vote of 13-8.
Senators Glenn McConnell and Robert Ford introduced this insidious bill (S 732) that would have allowed all nonprofit organizations to hold card and dice games as fundraisers. Senators Knotts and Hutto strongly supported the bill. The media described the bill as churches being allowed to gamble. The reality is that nonprofits include country clubs, all civic organizations, schools, the high school marching band, scout troops, hospitals, police, firefighters, and on, and on, and on –
The bill is dead this year, thanks in large part to Senators Martin, Elliott and Anderson. Senators who are gambling proponents will attempt to resurrect this issue again. Do you know your senator’s views on gambling?
The second issue touched on in our scene is common-law marriage. South Carolina is one of only 10 states that still recognizes this archaic practice which clogs probate courts and beleaguers funeral directors. Probate judges have been lobbying to do away with common-law marriage for at least 10 years. Funeral home directors have recently voiced their view that common-law marriage does not provide automatic guarantees to family members. Senator Luke Rankin has been filibustering for weeks to avoid a vote on the Senate floor. Senator Larry Martin has been working diligently to stop the filibuster, but the majority of senators will not commit to stopping Mr. Rankin’s rant. Please call your senator today and ask him/her to end the filibuster and to end common-law marriage in South Carolina.
Don’t let the fictitious scenario become a reality for either issue. First, pray about these issues that bring undue grief to families every day; then, make that call to your senator. Thank you for caring about kith and kin in South Carolina.