The Greatest Housing Bill Ever... NOT!

I don't know about you, but I was so excited to hear that today, Congress passed a bill providing real help for homeowners facing forclosure and serious measures targeting the housing crisis. I knew better than to be excited, because I went through the same thing with last year's FHA mortgage assistance excitement, just to be seriously crushed when I found out I didn't qualify, because my loan had it's first adjustment more than 3 years earlier.

So I read everything I could on today's "landmark legislation" with both excited hope and a jaundiced eye: Maybe this time, *I* could get some help.

I will warn you right now is a VERY long "I'm on a soapbox!" rant....

First off, this "unprecedented" bill is "regarded as the most significant housing legislation in decades." That's a lot to say, considering it's only going to cost us taxpayers SEVERAL HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS. But hey, if it helps stop people from losing their homes, I'm all for it.

The Cost of Marriage

Very likely later today, the Colorado senate will be voting on a proposal to raise the cost of a marriage license from $10 to $35. According to The Gazette, Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, is against the idea, arguing that the State should do "everything it can to promote marriage and should consider adding the fee to the cost of getting a divorce instead." I say Schultheis is not only wrong, but that the Senate should consider raising the cost of a marriage license higher. Much, much higher.

Colorado, like many states, makes it extremely difficult and expensive to get divorced. Now, I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing, but I do believe the emphasis is in the wrong place. I don't think divorce needs to be made more difficult. I think we need to make it far more difficult to get married.

Why? Because it's cheaper - and simpler - to get married than it is to license my dog. Seriously. If I wanted to get married - and I don't - all I need to do is go pay $10 and sign a short piece of paper. Until not too long ago, you didn't even need to show an ID.