Rod Grams: “I also would like to rise and join Senators Brownback and Ashcroft in offering an amendment to correct the injustices of…”

“I also would like to rise and join Senators Brownback and Ashcroft in offering an amendment to correct the injustices of the marriage penalty. I want to take a few minutes to speak on behalf of that. It is vitally important, I believe, that Congress pass this amendment, and as quickly as possible. I also would like to note that Senator Helms of North Carolina would like to be added as a cosponsor of this amendment. Mr. President, we have debated this issue now for quite some time. It is clear to me that this is noncontroversial and should have support from all Members of this body. Everyone in this debate agree that the family has been and will continue to be the bedrock of American society. We all agree strong families make strong communities; strong communities make for a strong America. We all agree that this marriage penalty tax treats married couples unfairly. Even President Clinton agrees that the marriage penalty is unfair. But still Washington refuses to get rid of this bad tax policy that discourages marriage--the most basic institution of our society. As a result, millions of married couples will be forced to pay more taxes simply for choosing to commit to a family through marriage. A 1997 study by the Congressional Budget Office, entitled "For Better or Worse: Marriage and the Federal Income Tax," estimated 21 million couples, or 42 percent of couples incurred marriage penalties in 1996.”