Paul Coverdell: “Mr. President, first I thank the Senator from Texas for her perseverance in pursuing relief of the marriage tax penalty…”

“Mr. President, first I thank the Senator from Texas for her perseverance in pursuing relief of the marriage tax penalty on so many millions of Americans. I have several general comments to make about this proposal at this time. Again, before she gets away, I thank the Senator from Texas for the drumbeat by which she has continued to pursue this issue because it is an exceedingly important policy issue. That is the first point I want to make. The fact we would have ever come to the point in the United States, given all the problems we have been talking about over these last several years of destabilization in our society, that we would punish people for creating families is unconscionable public policy. It is almost unbelievable it could have ever come to this point. So, as a matter of sound, intelligent, appropriate public policy, there should not be a penalty for people creating families. We should be encouraging, not discouraging, that.”