Tennessee GOP kill bill to ban child marriage

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Tennessee GOP kill bill to ban child marriage
BY MORGAN GSTALTER - 03/08/18 10:28 AM EST

State House Republicans in Tennessee on Wednesday effectively killed a bill to ban child marriages in an effort to bolster a conservative lawyer’s case against the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.

The bill called for the state to ban marriages where one of the parties is under 18 years old.

House Majority Leader Glen Casada (R) was convinced to send the bill to summer study in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee after an email from attorney David Fowler, a former state senator, The Tennessean reported on Wednesday.

Summer study is a place where bills often die before they return for debate, effectively killing the bill’s chances to be passed.

"Basically, what has happened is the Family Action Council wants to continue to let 13-year-olds get married in the state at the sake of their court case against same-sex couples," Jernigan said. "It's disgraceful. I'm embarrassed for the State of Tennessee, and I can only pray that we bring this back next year and not let them get in the way."

http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/377367-tennessee-gop-kill-ban-on-child-marriage