Dirk Kempthorne: “this morning we will vote on an amendment that brings to light a particularly glaring injustice of the Federal Tax Code…”

“this morning we will vote on an amendment that brings to light a particularly glaring injustice of the Federal Tax Code, and that is the marriage tax penalty. In recent months, the Senate has debated this issue more than once. I think these efforts are significant. I congratulate Senators Brownback and Ashcroft for offering this amendment and also the many other Members who have championed the elimination of the marriage tax penalty. Let me also say this: The U.S. Senate should not rest until we are able to eliminate this counterproductive, unfair, and regressive policy. I will continue to support amendments to end the marriage tax penalty until we are successful. I ask myself one fundamental question before I make up my mind on any issue we deal with on the floor of the U.S. Senate. That is: Does this policy make sense for the American people? Let us apply this question to our current Federal Tax Code, which quite simply penalizes a working couple for getting married. Should folks pay more tax because they are married? Absolutely not. The marriage tax penalty raises revenue for the Government but it is poor public policy. It most often raises taxes on lower- and middle- income families who claim the standard deduction. That is wrong. We must strengthen the bonds of family to strengthen the fabric of our society. Before 1969, marriages were treated by the Federal Tax Code like partnerships--allowing husbands and wives to split their incomes evenly.”