Politics & Government

Grothman's Bill Links Nonmarital Parenthood with Child Abuse

State Sen. Glenn Grothman has proposed a bill that would require the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to consider single parenthood a contributing factor to child abuse.

State Sen. Glenn Grothman has proposed a bill that considers nonmarital parenthood a contributing factor to child abuse.

Grothman presented the bill to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Human Services and Revenue public hearing last week, according to the Huffington Post.

Senate Bill 507 states it is "an act to amend ...  statutes ... relating to: requiring the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect."

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Grothman was unavailable for comment Monday afternoon but you can read more about his stance in a newsletter he published regarding his belief that the breakdown of the family is America's biggest problem.

The announcement of the bill has turned a lot of heads.

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"Wisconsin State Senator Glenn Grothman, the Assistant Majority Leader and a close ally of GOP Governor Scott Walker in the effort to destroy collective bargaining in the Badger State, is taking crazy to new levels," Forbes contributor Rick Unbar wrote.

A post on The New Civil Rights Movement web site also considers the bill an attack on gay couples who are raising children together.

Commentor Nikesha on TheRoot.com suggests that the bill is merely a political distraction from other important social issues. 

A Rhode Island resident started a petition on Change.org: "Withdraw Senate Bill 507 and end the war on women."

In 2009 there were approximately 13.5 million single parents in the U.S., with single mothers outnumbering single fathers five to one according to U.S. Census Data posted on TheBostonChannel.com. Single-parent households make up a third of households in Wisconsin.

Do you agree or disagree with Grothman?


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