Max Baucus: “I rise to support the Moynihan amendment, which provides an alternative form of marriage penalty relief. I do so for two…”

“I rise to support the Moynihan amendment, which provides an alternative form of marriage penalty relief. I do so for two main reasons. First, unlike the bill, the Democratic alternative completely eliminates the marriage penalty, by giving taxpayers the choice whether to file their taxes individually or jointly. Second, unlike the bill, the Democratic alternative only addresses the marriage penalty, rather than providing a more general tax cut that benefits some people but not others. In that sense, it's a replay of yesterday's debate, about estate taxes. By concentrating on the real problem, the Democratic alternative leaves resources available for other pressing national needs. Before going into these arguments in more detail, I'd provide a little background. From some of the debate that we've heard over the past months, you'd think that the proponents of committee bill are only ones in favor of marriage. But as is usually the case, it's not that simple. In fact, the taxation of married couples presents some complex issues, requiring careful thought. After all, the so-called 'marriage penalty' is not some devilish concoction designed to discourage marriage and reward sinners. It is, instead, a reflection of some difficult choices that have been made.”