David Minge: “Mr. Speaker, the debate this morning is one which is seductive. It is seductive in the sense that it is very difficult…”

“Mr. Speaker, the debate this morning is one which is seductive. It is seductive in the sense that it is very difficult to determine what the real issue is. I would submit that the real issue is not whether the marriage tax penalty ought to be eliminated, what type of a bill is most effective in accomplishing that, but the real debate is over the timing and our priorities in terms of the integrity of the budget process. We have established a budget process here in the U.S. House of Representatives that places a burden on the Committee on the Budget to report a budget on the House of Representatives to consider that budget in the U.S. Senate and the House to get together and adopt a budget for congressional financial decision-making. As a part of that budget process, we are not supposed to be considering legislation which has significant budget consequences unless it is on an emergency basis. So what is happening here in February of the year 2000, well before the budget process is advanced, we are considering a bill, which is a very attractive bill; and that is why I say it is a seductive process here. This is premature in the year.”