The State of Michigan has ordered Flint, Mich. resident Gary Johnson to get married to his partner Rebecca Witt, or pay $500 a month to pay off the medical costs of the birth of the couple’s daughter. The total birthing bill was $3,800, and was paid by the state through Medicaid.
 
But under a five-year-old law, the state demanding Johnson pay the bill, or marry the mother of his daughter. Johnson, who makes $8 an hour working for a nursery, had worked out a payment plan with the Friend of the Court — making payments of $50 a month. The state decided to ignore the negotiated monthly payment amount and jack the payment up to $500 a month.

It’s not as if Witt and Johnson don’t want to marry. But they are opposed to the state’s use of financial blackmail to “force” them to marry.

In a Flint Journal article on Sunday, Witt said:

“I don’t think anybody should tell me when to get married,” said Rebecca Witt.

“I would like to have a nice wedding and I can wait for it.”

Genessee County Friend of the Court’s Jack Battles sees the issue as preserving the sanctity of marriage.

“It’s totally up to them, (but if they don’t get married) they have to pay,” he said.

Although the state may encourage marriage by waiving those costs, Battles said the decision to take advantage of that option is up to Witt and her fiancee.

“We have quite a few cases where this comes into play,” said Battles.

“It’s not uncommon.”

Is the decision to get married really up to Johnson and Witt when the state is asking them to pay $500 a month or get married to forgive the debt? And is this really what is meant by the sanctity of marriage?

Some advocates claim the state’s effort protects the sanctity of marriage, while others disagree.

Again from the Flint Journal:

“It is despicable that the state would wave medical bills like a shotgun in the face of a low-income (family),” said Nicky Grist, executive director of the Brooklyn, NY-based Alternatives to Marriage.

“What interest could the state possibly have in rocking this delicately balanced boat?”

Meanwhile, the folks at the American Family Association see it differently.

A spokesman for the Mississippi-based American Family Association, however, believes government has the authority to encourage marriage and should use that power for the overall good and stability of society.

“The nuclear family is the preferred building block of civilization,” said the AFA’s Michael DePrimo.

The Journal’s story does not indicate why the state is pursuing Johnson to pay off the debt, but not Witt.