WALLY HERGER: “as Mother's Day approaches, we should all remember that when a couple stands at the altar and says, ``I do,'' they are…”

“as Mother's Day approaches, we should all remember that when a couple stands at the altar and says, ``I do,'' they are not agreeing to higher taxes. Yet, under our current Tax Code, that is precisely what is happening to millions of married couples each and every year. According to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office, an estimated 42 percent of all married couples, some 21 million couples nationwide, incurred a Federal marriage penalty tax in 1996. The average marriage penalty that year approached an astounding $1,400. Addressing this inequity in our tax law must be one of the top priorities of this Congress as we work to provide the American people further tax relief in 1998. This Mother's Day, I would urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to give the gift of tax fairness by supporting our efforts to eliminate the marriage penalty tax.”