[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 11 (Wednesday, February 9, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                  ELIMINATING 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. Madam Speaker, over the last 3 years, many of us have 
asked a pretty fundamental and basic question, and that is, is it 
right, is it fair that under our Tax Code, 25 million married, working 
couples pay higher taxes just because they are married. In fact, the 25 
million married working couples pay an average of $1,400 more in higher 
taxes just because they are married; and 1.1 million of those American 
working couples live in Illinois, married couples who pay higher taxes 
just because they are married.
  I have with me a photo of Shad and Michelle Hallihan. They are an 
average couple suffering the marriage tax penalty, two public 
schoolteachers in Illinois. Michelle points out the marriage tax 
penalty for her would buy 3,000 diapers for their newborn child. It is 
real money for real people.
  Tomorrow the House is going to vote on a bipartisan proposal. Madam 
Speaker, 241 Members of the House are now cosponsoring H.R. 6, 
legislation which will essentially wipe out the marriage tax penalty 
for the majority of those who suffer from it. Let us set aside 
partisanship, let us work together to eliminate the marriage tax 
penalty.
  Valentine's Day is next week. What better gift could this Congress 
give 25 million married, working couples than passage of this 
legislation tomorrow to wipe out the marriage tax penalty for couples 
like Michelle and Shad Hallihan.

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