Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I do not eliminate the deductions for the education expenses; I just draw them out over a longer period. I had to find…”

“I do not eliminate the deductions for the education expenses; I just draw them out over a longer period. I had to find someplace to offset the cost of moving the marriage penalty to the top. Phasing in the deductions for the education expenses was the only thing I could find that would be a viable alternative. Because I think the tax rate cuts are so important, I did not want to upset that balance. That is why I cannot support Senator Conrad's amendment. But I certainly intend to try to continue to look for offsets. Frankly, I am going to offer it without offsets if this is not adopted because I think moving the marriage penalty up is every bit as important as rate reduction and death tax relief and doubling the child tax credit. We are trying to give relief to American families. How much more do we need to be told than that the census shows us that 77 percent more people are living together unmarried than there were 10 years ago? I think we should value marriage, and I think we should encourage it. I certainly do not think we should have policies that discourage it. So I am going to do everything I can to move it up and make it the top priority that I think it is. That is what my amendment does. I ask the support of my colleagues.”