[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1287-E1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ENDING THE MARRIAGE TAX PENALTY

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 1998

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I highly commend to my colleagues this 
July 2, 1998, editorial from the South Sioux City Star supporting the 
end to the marriage tax penalty.

                    Time To End Marriage Tax Penalty

       Of all the external challenges to marital bliss, the least 
     expected and the most unforgivable is the one posed by your 
     own government.
       Married couples are subjected to what is described as the 
     ``marriage tax.''

[[Page E1288]]

       Every year, more than 21 million couples are penalized for 
     no other reason than they chose to come together in holy 
     matrimony. It's unfortunate that a 1040 form comes between 
     some couples who would like to get married, but would pay a 
     financial penalty.
       The breakup of the family is a leading cause for many of 
     America's social problems. Washington should advocate 
     policies that strengthen families, not weaken them. Yet 
     punishing working families is what the current tax code does 
     through a cold mathematical calculation on a piece of paper.
       To correct this immoral inequality, the Marriage Tax 
     Elimination Act (HR 2456), has been introduced. It would 
     eliminate the penalty levied on nearly half of America's 
     married couples. On the average, most couples must produce an 
     additional $1,400 at tax time. Given the fact that two-income 
     households have been the norm rather than the exception for 
     years, the marriage tax needs to be eliminated.
       The Marriage Tax Elimination Act would restore equilibrium 
     by allowing couples to choose their filing status either 
     jointly or singles, whichever produces the most savings.
       The MTE Act was introduced in Congress with the support of 
     the majority of the sophomore class and the Republican 
     leadership. It already has 180 cosponsors and the support of 
     such organizations as Americans for Tax Reform, Independent 
     Women's Forum and National Taxpayers Union.
       With such broad-based support you'd think the Marriage Tax 
     Elimination Act should have no trouble moving through 
     Congress. But the MTE is a tax cut and you know the 
     difficulty of getting Congress to cut taxes in any area.

     

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