Proposal would raise marriage fee

   Saying "I do" could get more expensive in Colorado.

   Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, has proposed raising the marriage fee from $10 to $35 to raise money for Court-Appointed Special Advocate programs across the state. SB 47 could come up for a final vote in the Senate as soon as today.

   CASA programs pair volunteers with children who are going through neglect or abuse cases or sometimes divorce proceedings.

   They get some local government funding but no state money, leaving thousands of children across the state stuck on a waiting list.

   Morse said Colorado has the second lowest marriage fee in the country, and he thinks it's an appropriate source of funding for CASA because the agency deals with the problems of broken homes.

   Senate Republicans who agree with Morse's goal say they're shocked, however, that he would pay for it by increasing the marriage fee.

   Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, argued the state should do everything it can to promote marriage and should consider adding the fee to the cost of getting a divorce instead.

   CONTACT THE WRITER: (303) 837-0613 or ed.sealover@gazette.com