[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DO AWAY WITH 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, over the last several years many of us have 
asked a very fundamental question, and that is, is it right, is it fair 
that under our Tax Code if individuals get married they pay higher 
taxes than if they stay single? Is it right, is it fair that under our 
Tax Code that 28 million married working couples pay on average $1,400 
more in higher taxes just because they are married?
  Well, this House, under the leadership of the Speaker, is going to do 
something about that. Today, the House Committee on Ways and Means is 
going to have committee action on H.R. 6, legislation which will wipe 
out the marriage tax penalty for the vast majority of those who suffer 
it, providing marriage tax relief for 28 million married working 
couples; couples such as Shad and Michelle Hallihan, two public school 
teachers from Joliet, Illinois, who suffer the marriage tax penalty 
just because they are married.
  Now, their marriage tax penalty is about $1,000, just below average. 
But Michelle Hallihan told me, she said, ``Tell your friends in 
Washington that the marriage tax penalty is real money for real 
people.'' That thousand dollar marriage tax penalty that Shad and 
Michelle suffer, they just had a baby, and she pointed out that that 
$1,000 would purchase for her and her husband and her child 3,000 
diapers.
  Let us eliminate the marriage tax penalty. I am pleased a dozen 
Democrats have finally joined with us. We are going to make a 
bipartisan effort and wipe out the marriage tax penalty.

                          ____________________