[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MARRIAGE TAX ELIMINATION ACT

  (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to ask the question of why 
should we pass the Marriage Tax Elimination Act. I think it is best 
explained with a series of questions.
  Do Americans feel that it is fair that a working married couple pays 
higher taxes just because they are married? Do Americans feel that it 
is fair that 21 million married working couples pay an average of 
$1,400 more than an identical working couple living together outside of 
marriage? Do Americans feel that it is right that our Tax Code actually 
provides them an incentive to get divorced?
  Twenty-one million married working couples pay on the average of 
$1,400 more in taxes just because they are married. In the south 
suburbs of Chicago, that is 1 year's tuition at a community college. 
That is 3 months worth of day care.
  The Marriage Tax Elimination Act now has 238 bipartisan cosponsors. 
It would immediately eliminate the marriage tax penalty. The marriage 
tax penalty is unfair and it is wrong. Let us eliminate the marriage 
tax penalty and do it now.

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