Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to prevent child marriage and protect minors.

The bills raise the minimum age for a person to consent to marriage to 18, according to Whitmer’s office.

“Keeping Michiganders safe and healthy is one of my top priorities, and today’s bipartisan bills will build on our efforts to protect young people—especially young women—from abuse,” said Whitmer. “As a county prosecutor, I went after those who used their power to prey on young people, and as governor, I am proud to sign legislation to strengthen protections for children and survivors into law. Together, we can make Michigan a safe, welcoming state where you can grow up and pursue your potential.”

    • bobalot
      link
      fedilink
      181 year ago

      “BoTh siDeS aRe tHe SaMe” - Half of Reddit and Lemmy

    • @DiagnosedADHD@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      171 year ago

      It said support was bipartisan, which if you know anything about Michigan conservatives and Whitmer its pretty shocking they’d agree on anything

    • I’m curious as to why she’s been in office for four years and only now thinks it’s an issue that needs addressed. I mean, finally, good. But shouldn’t something like that be day one? I guess roads were more important.

      • Zombie-Mantis
        link
        fedilink
        5
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        The governor signs bills, she doesn’t write them, so that’s more of a question for the Michigan legislature. You’re still right, & this should’ve been done years ago, but at least it’s happening. Many states still allow it.

        • My bad. I was under the impression that the governor could issue executive orders like what happen during covid. Probably reserved for things they deem important.

          • @dhork@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            01 year ago

            In the US federal government (and I assume most, if not all, state governments), the job of the legislature is to create laws, and the job of the Executive is to enforce and execute them. (The job of the judiciary is to interpret the laws and apply them to individual cases through trials).

            Executive orders are directives issued by the President or Governor that clarify and explain how laws are to be enforced by the Federal agencies under the Executive Branch. They can’t create new law, as that is Congress’s job, but they can clarify how agencies are meant to enforce the law, and in certain cases Congress may explicitly grant certain powers to agencies, so the Executive can make orders on those matters that have the force of law as well.

      • @Chunk@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        31 year ago

        Also she was probably just as surprised as the people in this thread that child marriage wasn’t illegal.

  • @jeffw@lemmy.worldM
    link
    fedilink
    English
    461 year ago

    House Bill 4296, sponsored by Rep. Betsy Coffia, D – Traverse City, is a grandfather law that ensures minors who are currently married do not lose their spousal benefits under the new laws.

    That’s just weird to read

  • sarcasticsunrise
    link
    fedilink
    431 year ago

    I’m not too well versed on Whitmer’s political stance, but she keeps pissing a certain kind of people off. She could be some milquetoast lib for all I know but this is clearly a win, amirite? I can’t conceive of how any village elders who trot about PROTECT CHILDREN could possibly object to this. Couldn’t happen in my America

  • Alien Nathan Edward
    link
    fedilink
    201 year ago

    Christian conservatives be like “Oh no, what transparently thin veil will I use to cover child sex slavery now?”

    • TurtleJoe
      link
      fedilink
      171 year ago

      Lol, it’s legal in the vast majority of states.

      As of July 2023, ten states have banned underage marriages, with no exception: Delaware (2018),[3] New Jersey (2018),[4] Pennsylvania (2020),[5] Minnesota (2020),[6] Rhode Island (2021),[7] New York (2021),[8] Massachusetts (2022),[9] Vermont (2023),[10] Connecticut (2023)[11] and Michigan (2023).[12]

      It’s especially super cool when parents marry their underage teenage daughter to her rapist, and then he becomes her legal guardian. I’ll let you guess which major political party overwhelmingly supports this.