Here is the Republican-Supported Polygamy Agenda in all it's glory. New HHS Secy Leavitt, former Governor of Utah, said in 1998 that polygamy is likely constitutional, protected by the First Amendment and religious freedom.
"It's clear to me in this state and many others, they have chosen not to aggressively prosecute it. I assume there is a legal reason for that. I think it goes well beyond tradition." The governor mentioned arguments others have made that plural marriage may be an expression of religion that is protected under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment."
Now Leavitt is the guy in charge of sending out the welfare money to the FLDS and other polygamy communities. Their future is assured by the Republicans. With Leavitt in charge of HHS and the Republicans in charge of all 3 branches of government, FLDS and other Mormon Polygamists will be able to increase their numbers from the current nearly half million to literally millions of polygamists and we will be back to the 19th Century.
What's to stop the spread of polygamy now--already in 30 states--with the Republicans in control and each Fundie polygamist wife averaging 10 children each??
You see, the Mormons only gave up polygamy to gain statehood and control over Utah. Even the regular LDS religion states that if you wish to attain the highest levels of heaven, you must live in Celestial Polygamy--although remain monogamous here on Earth or be ex-communicated. In practice, however, an estimated 3% of regular LDS Mormons are polygamists and even though the Temples know who they are, they are tolerated as long as they don't flaunt their polygamist marriages. How many Mormons would discreetly return to polygamy if they felt their Republican Protectors had made it safe enough?
The Republican-supported Polygamy Agenda is to quietly allow their Fundie Mormon supporters to grow and thrive, because they vote Republican, not because of any compassion or legal arguments.
You can bet that if the Fundie polygamists voted Democrat, the Republicans would be prosecuting the anti-polygamy laws and declaring how they are making America safe for Monogamy again.
After Leavitt's 1998 claim that Polygamy is protected by the U.S. Constitution, Jay Leno started cracking jokes like wondering if polygamists cheat on their wives. Leavitt later issued a QUALIFIED retraction:
"I'm just saying that a lot of people have looked at this problem... and have concluded that there are proof problems, there are legal ramifications and there are higher priorities."