More than a few times on the campaign trail, Gov. Rick Scott made reference to marrying his high school sweetheart. So it comes as no surprise that the new governor has issued a proclamation declaring National Marriage Week in Florida, which ends Monday, Valentines Day.
"A healthy, loving marriage deserves our special respect because it provides irreplaceable personal happiness and creates the safest place for children to flourish and to enjoy the full emotional, moral, educational and financial benefits of both parents, noted Scott in the proclamation.
Efforts are being made by advocates of marriage in the United States and across the world to push National Marriage Week and the efforts are bearing some fruit. Republican Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin also issued a proclamation designating the week as National Marriage Week in the Badger State. Conservative and faith-based groups, including the Heritage Foundation, have backed the campaign across the nation.
Staff at the National Marriage Project, which is heading up the campaign for National Marriage Week, pointed to a study that indicated American couples are rethinking divorce and separation plans due to the continued sluggish economy.
"Twenty-nine percent of all couples studied say that the recession has deepened their commitment to their marriage, 58 percent say it had no effect, and 13 percent say it has not deepened their commitment," noted Brad Wilcox, who directed the study.
"We want to get the message out that marriage is beneficial for both personal and national economic stability and for raising more well-adjusted children," added National Marriage Week USA CEO Chuck Stetson. "Marriage breakdown costs taxpayers at least $112 billion a year. Forty percent of all American babies are now born outside of marriage. We have an alarming drop in the marriage rate from 79 percent of all adults married in 1970 to 57 percent today. Combined with our 50 percent divorce rate, family breakdown is costly to the nation. In these days of economic hardship, policy leaders and individual Americans need to get serious about our efforts to strengthen marriage."
"Marriage pays," insisted Sheila Weber, executive director of National Marriage Week USA. "Research shows that marriage makes people happier, live longer, and build more economic security.Children with married parents perform better in school, have less trouble with the law, less teen pregnancy and fewer issues with addiction."
Scotts proclamation won the praise of social and religious conservatives across the state, including John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Council who also chairs the Strong Marriages Florida Coalition.
We are thrilled to see Florida recognizing the importance of marriage to the men, women and children of our great state, said Stemberger late last week. Governor Rick Scotts National Marriage Week Proclamation is a strong statement about how the governor views marriage and its importance to the economic well-being of this state and to its people.
The governors proclamation sets Florida apart as a national leader in recognition of marriage as a great good for men, women and children, added Stemberger, In our work with churches and communities around Florida, we champion marriage as the one institution within our society that consistently provides men, women and children with a better life. It builds strong communities and churches. And it is at the core of the basic economic unit of the family.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
