FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2000
CONTACT: Lisette McSoud Mondello
SENATOR HUTCHISON SAYS HOUSE VOTE TO END
THE MARRIAGE TAX PENALTY IS A GOOD FIRST STEP
- Senate Bill Must Also Lift the Penalty on Middle Class Couples -
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison said today's expected House vote to eliminate the marriage tax penalty is a good first step and that she will lead the Senate in finishing the job by expanding that tax relief to middle class couples.
"This Valentines Day, Congress is saying to married couples: You won't have to choose between love and money if we can end the marriage penalty tax this year," Senator Hutchison said at a Capitol pep rally before the House vote. "Since I started the drive in 1997 to end this unfair tax, American married couples have sent Washington $90 billion in marriage tax penalty payments, according to the Congressional Budget Office. With a trillion dollar federal surplus, we can free Americans from that burden."
She was joined by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (Illinois), House Majority Leader Dick Armey (Texas) and Senators Sam Brownback (Kansas), Spencer Abraham (Michigan) and John Ashcroft (Missouri).
She added that "the House is off to a good start with today's vote. I want to build on that by also offering relief to middle class couples in the 28 percent tax bracket. These are our police officers and teachers and this tax relief will help them pay their mortgage or buy a first home."
The unfair marriage tax penalty affects half of all married couples -- 21 million in all. The standard deduction for single taxpayers is $4,300. But for couples filing jointly, the standard deduction is $7,300 -- $1,300 less than if the couple were unmarried and filing separately. The House bill doubles the standard deduction and also expands the 15 percent tax bracket for married couples to twice that of a single taxpayer.
Senator Hutchison said that lifting the marriage tax penalty is one way to help families. Another is to minimize the impact on families imposed by the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), which levies extra taxes upon workers who claim numerous exemptions, such as for charitable contributions, $500-per child tax credits and mortgage interest.
"The federal government should not penalize families for being families – it's just that simple," said Senator Hutchison. Her legislation to end the marriage penalty tax has 20 Senate co-sponsors. She included an earlier version in last year's tax bill that was vetoed by the President.
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