A truly strange decision by Gov. Patrick.

Tying the knot in Massachusetts just got a little bit more expensive.

A bill signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick increases the amount that justices of the peace can charge couples to perform weddings.

Under the old rules, a justice of the peace could charge up to $75 to marry couples in the justice’s hometown, and up to $125 if the justice had to travel out of his or her hometown.

The new law increases those fees to $100 and $150.

You know how gay-marriage advocates are up in arms over President-elect Barack Obama's decision to have anti-gay-marriage Pastor Rick Warren deliver the invocation at his inauguration? I hope gay-marriage advocates in Massachusetts also give a thumbs-down to Gov. Patrick's latest act. Won't this hurt economically struggling same-sex couples who plan to get married in the near future? Granted, it's not as controversial as the Rick Warren matter, but Patrick's actions hardly seem fair to gay couples of meager means who wish to marry, no?

UPDATE: More from Red Mass Group and Michele McPhee.