[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE MARRIAGE TAX PENALTY ACT (H.R. 6)

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                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2000

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, last week the House voted on the Marriage 
Tax Penalty Act (H.R. 6). Had I been present for this vote, I would 
have voted ``aye.'' The bill passed the House with strong bipartisan 
support by a vote of 268-158.
  I firmly believe that this Congress should enact some common sense 
tax reform--including ending this unfair burden on married taxpayers. 
Since coming to Congress, I have cosponsored legislation to address 
this inequity because I know that this is something we must fix. It is 
unfair that some couples pay an average of $1400 more in taxes simply 
because they are married. So I am pleased that we can offer this common 
sense relief for American families.
  But while I would have supported this bill, we can improve upon it as 
it makes its way through the legislative process. Specifically, the 
benefits of the bill must be targeted more directly to middle class 
families who are currently saddled by the marriage penalty. This will 
bring relief to those Americans who most need it, and free up 
additional resources for other critical priorities--paying down the 
national debt, modernizing Medicare, saving Social Security, and making 
investments in education, health care, the environment, and national 
defense.

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