James M. Jeffords: “when we passed the last big tax package in 2001, we included in the bill a title called ``Marriage Penalty Relief.''…”

“when we passed the last big tax package in 2001, we included in the bill a title called ``Marriage Penalty Relief.'' That title had three sections aimed at easing the burden faced by taxpayers, who find themselves paying higher tax bills after they get married than what they would have paid if they had stayed single. One of these provisions increased the standard deduction for married taxpayers, so that it would equal twice the amount of the standard deduction allowed single taxpayers, making marriage an advantage. The second provision increased the size of the 15 percent income tax rate bracket for a married couple to twice the size of the corresponding bracket for a single taxpayer. The third provision addressed the marriage penalty in earned income tax credit, and provided for a larger credit for married couples. All three of these provisions were phased in gradually, not becoming fully effective until 2008 or 2009. The bill under consideration today accelerates the scheduled phase-in of two of the three marriage penalty relief provisions we adopted in 2001.”