ACTION NEEDED ON MARRIAGE LICENSE CLARIFICATION AGEMA CALLS FOR CONSIDERATION OF BILL THAT WILL HELP COUNTY CLERKS

A Michigan House measure that clarifies the state's law for issuing marriage licenses has been ignored in committee for too long and must be given a vote by the Legislature as soon as possible to help local county clerks, Rep. Dave Agema said today.

Agema's measure, House Bill 4241, expressly prohibits the issuance of a marriage license to illegal immigrants without the couple presenting applicable identification information, including a Social Security Number as required by federal law. Many illegal immigrants use the marriage licenses as evidence of their legal status to obtain a driver's license and in turn be eligible for health care, education, welfare and jobs.

"This bill is necessary so county clerks can do their jobs according to existing law," said Agema, R-Grandville. "These public servants, and specifically our Ottawa County clerk for one, are following the rules as required by the federal government but because of a perceived vagueness in Michigan law are being blocked from their duty with threats of lawsuits by the American Civil Liberties Union.
"The Legislature's action on my bill that spells out a marriage license will not be issued without the required paperwork will clarify the process for all parties involved. Unfortunately, this simple, common-sense change has been ignored for more than a year."

HB 4241 has been before the House Committee on Oversight and Investigations without consideration or discussion since Agema introduced the bill in February 2007.

Today, the freshman lawmaker requested House leadership to discharge the measure from committee so the full House could vote on it. His motion for discharge was denied, leaving the bill to remain stalled before the committee.

"At the local, state and national levels there has been increasing concern for people's security and proof of identity," Agema said. "Closing this loophole, which some are using to gain official documents that can then be used by illegal aliens to get more bogus documents, should be a priority. I guess this means Democrats want illegal immigrants to get marriage licenses and driver's licenses.
"It is supremely disappointing to me that our state government is not allowing even discussion of a bill that will help Michigan's county clerks strengthen one of our country's first lines of defense against identity fraud."
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