Susan Collins: “But, due to the Tax Code, it is an excuse to raise more revenue, and that is not right. Under today's Tax Code, 25…”

“But, due to the Tax Code, it is an excuse to raise more revenue, and that is not right. Under today's Tax Code, 25 billion married couples pay higher taxes as a result of saying, I do. Today's bill will change that. It will allow both wives and husbands to each take a full standard deduction, and it will broaden the lower tax bracket so that lower- and middle- income couples will not be punished or pushed into a higher tax bracket when their incomes are combined. The Marriage Penalty Tax Relief Act of 2000 will provide American families relief from the excessive taxation which has been caused by our government's excessive spending. Now that a balanced budget and reforms that the Federal Government has done in the past few years, we have a positive cash flow. It is time to reduce the tax burden on working Americans. Ending the unfair marriage penalty is an important step in that direction. My hope is that we will not stop there. American families are also paying far too much for gasoline, which is a necessity for most households.”