[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 49 (Tuesday, April 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                 ELIMINATE THE MARRIAGE TAX PENALTY NOW

  (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, the question today is, why pass the Marriage 
Tax Elimination Act? I believe this series of questions best 
illustrates why.
  Do Americans feel that it is fair that working married couples with 
two incomes pay higher taxes just because they are married? Do 
Americans feel that it is fair that 21 million married working couples 
pay, on the average, $1,400 more just because they are married than an 
identical couple with an identical income living together outside of 
marriage? Do Americans feel that it is fair that our Tax Code actually 
provides an incentive to get divorced?
  Of course not. That is wrong, and that is why elimination of the 
marriage tax penalty is so important.
  If we think about it, 21 million married working couples, 42 million 
Americans, pay on the average of $1,400 more just because they are 
married. That is one year's tuition at Joliet Junior College in the 
south suburbs of Chicago; three months in a local day care center. It 
is real money for real people.
  Mr. Speaker, let us eliminate the marriage penalty. Let us eliminate 
it now.

                          ____________________