[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[July 18, 2000]
[Page 1439]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Proposed Marriage Penalty Tax Relief Legislation
July 18, 2000

    While I strongly support targeted marriage penalty relief, the 
marriage penalty bill put forth by the majority in Congress is one part 
of a fiscally irresponsible, poorly targeted, and regressive tax plan. 
If this strategy succeeds, more benefits will go to the top one percent 
of taxpayers than to the bottom 80 percent of all Americans, while 
ignoring tax cuts I have proposed for college tuition, long-term care, 
savings, and child care. By itself, I would veto this bill. In the 
spirit of bipartisanship, however, I am willing to accept marriage 
penalty relief on this scale if Congress passes a plan that preserves 
the Medicare surplus to pay down the debt and passes a plan that gives 
real, voluntary Medicare prescription drug coverage that is available 
and affordable for all seniors. This is the best way to break the 
partisan logjam and help the tens of millions of older Americans across 
this country who face rising prescription drug costs.