[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ELIMINATE THE MARRIAGE TAX PENALTY

  (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, 3 weeks ago this House made a commitment to 
eliminate the marriage tax penalty in the budget that we passed, and I 
think a series of questions best illustrate why it is so important.
  These are pretty simple questions. Do Americans feel that it is fair 
that our Tax Code actually provides a higher tax on a married couple 
just because they are married? Do Americans feel that it is fair that 
21 million married, working couples pay on the average of $1,400 more 
just because they are married? Do Americans feel that it is right that 
the only way today to avoid the marriage tax penalty is to file for 
divorce? Of course, Americans all agree that is wrong.
  Mr. Speaker, $1,400 in the south suburbs of Chicago, that is one 
year's tuition at Joliet Junior College; that is 3 months day care at a 
local day care center. Higher taxes just because you are married are 
wrong.
  We made a commitment in the budget that we passed out of this House a 
few short weeks ago to eliminate the marriage penalty. Let us work 
together in a bipartisan way. I hope President Clinton will join with 
us in making this a bipartisan effort to eliminate the marriage 
penalty. Let us eliminate the marriage penalty, and let us eliminate it 
now.

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