Mike Levin: “I favor a marriage penalty tax relief bill. That is why I say to my colleague on the Committee on Ways and Means, I am…”

“I favor a marriage penalty tax relief bill. That is why I say to my colleague on the Committee on Ways and Means, I am for the Democratic substitute, and I can face the thousands of voters in my district, whose numbers the Republicans like to cite for each of us in the House. We know our districts, and I know this bill that I am supporting; the Democratic substitute is the answer. They are desperately, on the Republican side, trying to escape the "do nothing" label. It sticks and it sticks, and it will continue to be adhesive as long as they simply send bills that will be vetoed. They will never escape that label. Why will this bill of theirs be vetoed if it were to pass? First of all, half of the relief in their bill goes to those who do not pay a marriage penalty. So they attach the marriage penalty label, though more than half of the money does not apply to that situation. Secondly, many families with kids will not get the full relief that the bill promises because of the way they have shaped it. Thirdly, the lion's share, and this is important, of the money goes to the top quarter of the tax filers. Fourthly, look at the out-year projections. Assuming the AMT is eventually applied, and the chairman of the committee has promised that, the 20-year cost of their bill is $700 billion. $700 billion. That plays lightly with the future of my grandchildren and with the need to address Medicare and Social Security.”