[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13555]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 13555]]

                    TAX RELIEF FOR MARRIED AMERICANS

  (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, let me ask a basic question of fundamental 
fairness: Is it right, is it fair, that under our Tax Code, 25 million 
married working couples on average pay $1,400 more in taxes just 
because they are married?
  Is it right that under our Tax Code that a husband and wife who are 
both in the workforce are forced to pay higher taxes if they choose to 
get married and the only way to avoid the marriage tax penalty is 
either to get divorced or just not get married?
  Madam Speaker, that is wrong, and I am so proud this House of 
Representatives passed overwhelmingly legislation to wipe out the 
marriage tax penalty for 25 million married working couples. This week 
we are going to pass legislation, agreement with the House and Senate, 
which will wipe out the marriage tax penalty for 25 million married 
working couples. I was proud to see that every House Republican 
supported H.R. 6, and 48 Democrats broke with their leadership to 
support our efforts.
  I want to extend an invitation to my Democratic friends on other side 
of the aisle to join with us and make it a bipartisan effort to 
eliminate the marriage tax penalty. It is unfair; it is wrong. It is 
wrong to tax marriage. Let us eliminate the marriage tax penalty.

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