Todd Tiahrt: “I believe one would have to be totally out of touch to defend the current tax code. No sane individual, if asked to…”

“I believe one would have to be totally out of touch to defend the current tax code. No sane individual, if asked to start from scratch, would come up with the current tax code in a million years. The tax code is baffling even to the experts. In short, it is indefensible. One of the aspects of the tax code that is particularly indefensible is the marriage tax penalty. Many people do not learn about the marriage tax penalty until they get married. Then they discover all of a sudden that the government wants to make sure young couples starting out have a little bit tougher time than they had planned. Perhaps the most surprising of all is the fact that the marriage tax penalty can be the stiffest for those who can afford it the least, the working poor, who are trying to keep home and family together. This unfairness in the tax code should have been done away with years ago, but the liberals in Congress have fought against any tax relief, even for the working poor. Mr. Speaker, now is the time to eliminate the marriage tax penalty and bring tax equity for working families.”