[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 49 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MARRIAGE PENALTY AND FAMILY TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2001

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                               speech of

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2001

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, Getting married shouldn't mean saying `I 
do;' to higher taxes. In my state of New York over one and a half 
million couples are burdened by the marriage penalty, nearly 60,000 in 
my district alone. This occurs when married couples pay more than an 
unmarried couple with the same income.
  For example two individuals, living together, but not married, each 
with incomes of $30,000--their combined standard deduction would be 
$9,100 and their tax rate would be 15%. If that same couple got 
married, their standard deduction would drop to $7,189 and they would 
move into the 28% tax rate. The only difference is that they got 
married.
  We should eliminate this inequity by widening the 15% tax bracket to 
allow joint filers to have two times the income of individuals and 
still remain taxed at 15%. We should also double the standard deduction 
for joint filers to twice that of singles. We're talking about people 
who work hard and play by the rules. At a time when parents are working 
harder for less money, we need to encourage families, not punish them. 
Ending the marriage penalty is particularly urgent for the middle-
class. This is a wrong that should have been righted a long time ago--
making the tax code more fair while providing families with meaningful 
tax relief for the things that matter--buying a home, ensuring quality 
family medical care, and sending kids to college.

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