Political Quotes

“there is a big, important question that needs to be asked. That is, why it is so important that we pass the Marriage Tax Penalty Elimination Act? I think that question is best answered with a series of questions. Do Americans feel that it is fair that an average working married couple pays more in taxes just because they are married? Do Americans feel that it is fair that 21 million married working couples pay on the average of $1,400 more in taxes just because they are married, $1,400 more than an identical couple with identical incomes that live outside of marriage? Of course not. Americans recognize that the marriage tax penalty is not only unfair, it is wrong. It is morally wrong that we tax our society's most basic institution, 21 million married working couples, $1,400 more. That is one year's tuition at Joliet Junior College in the district I represent. That is 3 months of day care at a local child care center, real money for real people. Let us make elimination of the marriage tax penalty a bipartisan priority. Let us make elimination of the marriage tax penalty our number one priority this year. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight what is arguably the most unfair provision in the U.S. Tax Code: the marriage tax penalty.”