This is insane and a crazy waste of time. Nut jobs like this scare the crap out of me when they are in positions of power. Shame on him for placing such a stigma on single parents.

The local shopper in Racine regularly carries horror stories about child abuse and children being murdereed.

Do you know what the common thread is?

HINT: It's not marriage.

BTW - While you're calling people names and hating on the facts, children are dying - in reality.

The rate of child abuse in single parent households is 27.3 children per 1,000, which is nearly twice the rate of child abuse in two parent households (15.5 children per 1,000).
An analysis of child abuse cases in a nationally representative sample of 42 counties found that children from single parent families are more likely to be victims of physical and sexual abuse than children who live with both biological parents. Compared to their peers living with both parents, children in single parent homes had:
77 percent greater risk of being physically abused
87 percent greater risk of being harmed by physical neglect
165 percent greater risk of experiencing notable physical neglect
74 percent greater risk of suffering from emotional neglect
80 percent greater risk of suffering serious injury as a result of abuse
120 percent greater risk of experiencing some type of maltreatment overall.
A national survey of nearly 1,000 parents found that 7.4 percent of children who lived with one parent had been sexually abused, compared to only 4.2 percent of children who lived with both biological parents.

Using data from 1,000 students tracked from seventh or eighth grade in 1988 through high school in 1992, researchers determined that only 3.2 percent of the boys and girls who were raised with both biological parents had a history of maltreatment. However, a full 18.6 percent of those in other family situations had been maltreated.
A study of 156 victims of child sexual abuse found that the majority of the children came from disrupted or single-parent homes; only 31 percent of the children lived with both biological parents. Although stepfamilies make up only about 10 percent of all families, 27 percent of the abused children in this study lived with either a stepfather or the mother's boyfriend.49

http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/foundation/foundatione.cfm

A common theme amongst discussions that involve children being abused by boyfriends notes that the child pays for the Mother's choice of penis.

That's the facts. Call them crazy if you want.

Fox 6 News. KENOSHA — Officials say a Kenosha man’s home became a crime scene, but before investigators could catch up to an accused rapist, he ran, and hasn’t been seen since last fall. 67-year-old Luis “‘Louie” Carrillo is wanted in connection with child sexual assault charges. Kenosha police say Carrillo met a young mom and began a relationship with her. He then welcomed her two and three-year-old daughters into his home. “He sent her a letter stating that he loved her and cared for her. He wanted her and the kids to move in with him,” Kenosha Police Detective Warren Denharthog said.
Investigators say they all lived in the home for about three months, and then one of the girls made a shocking admission, accusing Carrillo of assaulting her and her sister. Denharthog described the family’s reaction: “Words, anger, there’s going to be frustration. There’s going to be ‘why did this happen?’” Denharthog said.
When the furious mom went to confront Carrillo, she found the home vacant. Now, law enforcement is looking for a fugitive. “He’s aware of what he did, and he’s aware that we’re looking for him, and he’s on the run, and he knows he did something wrong,” Denharthog said.

http://racineuncovered.org/2012/03/us-marshals-search-for-luis-carrillo/

How about the mothers that took their children and themselves out of abusive situations and as a result are now single? Are you telling me it would have been better for them to have stayed in an unhealthy marriage, consequently sending the message to their children that being abused is permissible and the norm and what they themselves should strive to find as adults? Give me a break! What about the women who are widows because they lost their husbands due to war or other unfortunate circumstance? Most single mothers are single because it was the best choice for their children and necessary for their well-being. These end up being happy, healthy, well-adjusted children because they are indeed with a parent who loves them, dotes on them, and in most cases has to work twice as hard to provide for them. Better to be with one loving, hard-working parent because unhappy marriages are damaging to children too! Personally, leaving my ex-husband was the smartest and best decision I've ever made for my little family. Behavior improved, happiness was found. You can't throw a bunch of numbers around from 25 years ago and expect them to be all-encompassing. Most single mothers I know are the most hard-working, dedicated people I know. Props to them for trying to provide better lives for their children and shame on this ignorant bastard Grothman for trying to run them into the ground.

Mr Grothman, as a supporter of the GOP and a divorced (now remarried) father of a wonderful daughter, I am shocked and appalled that you could classify "single parenting" as a cause of child abuse in this way. There are many cases where the parents create a better environment apart and are better parents apart then together. My daughter now has four people who love and guide her. You sir have crossed the line.

We have extremes like this. And then we have extremes of a government who wants our children at an earlier and earlier age because they think they can do a better job of parenting than parents can do. This same government who doesn't hesitate to break into homes and take children from their parents, single or couples. Or take a child when they deem that they are better able to decide what medical treatment your child needs.

We have a government out of control and we have let them do it.

While I agree that "the breakdown of the family is [one of] America's biggest problem[s]," I believe that this proposed legislation is misguided, misdirected, and antithetical to solving the problem it was designed to combat.

Perhaps Grothman should think about this one further and only come back to the table when he has something a little more polished and well defined to offer.

Having read 30 to 50 police reports every week for the past 12 years, I can honestly say there are some pretty bad marriages out there where children are being abused. And, I'd like to point out that 1,000 people isn't considered a statistically sound sample size. If we really want to talk about reducing child abuse, perhaps we should really be honest about the number of children living in poverty. The United Way of Racine County just released their indicator report, which shows that 20 percent of all children living in Racine County are living in poverty. The number of people living in poverty in the City of Racine since 2007 has increased by 77 percent. The number of overall substantiated child abuse cases in Racine County over the past five years has increased by 35 percent. I don't think "single moms" are the problem as much as it's a condition of living in poverty and instability.

@Tim - no swearing - I deleted your comments because of that.

Shame women? Oh, right, because back in those days it was perfectly okay for women to be thought of as property and not as individuals while the boys/men who knocked them up got to continue playing varsity sports before going to college and marrying someone more "acceptable." Why would you want to go back there?

Well, Senator Grothman, I'm pleased to hear that you will be sponsoring measures to make contraception readily available to all Wisconsin women, especially the single ones as a corollary to this bill. Because I'd hate to think you were being hypocritical or anything.

Aren't there important things that our government should be focused on? Ridiculous discussions like this take up time our government officials could use to debate about actual meaningful legislation.
This is not to say that child abuse is not important but perhaps if the economy was doing better families may be under less stress. It is a fact (check anywhere) that poverty leads to stress, which leads to potential drinking, drugs and short tempers, which can ultimately lead to child abuse.
Why not cite that?
Because then Grothman and company may actually be expected to do something about it. I don't know about anyone else but I don't vote to hear someone's limited views on family or religion. I vote for individuals I think may make a difference for the better. America does not need condemnation from a self righteous moralist, it needs education, jobs and fresh ideas