Proposal offers tax relief to 25 million married couples
WASHINGTON- On Feb. 10, the House of Representatives passed the Marriage Penalty Relief Act of 2000. The measure passed the House just four days before Valentine\’s Day. The Republican-sponsored bill aims to eliminate the "marriage penalty" paid by some 25 million two-income couples. The marriage penalty hits middle class families the hardest, most often occurring when the higher-earning spouse makes between $20,000 and $75,000.
The Marriage Penalty Relief Act of 2000 passed the House by a vote of 268 for passage and 158 against. Forty-eight Democrats crossed the aisle and voted for the bill while every Republican that voted on the bill voted for passage.
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, issued the following statement on House passage of the "marriage penalty" tax:
"How fitting that the House should pass the Marriage Penalty Relief Act of 2000 just four days before Valentine\’s Day. What better Valentine\’s Day gift for married couples than to eliminate the marriage penalty?
"The marriage penalty requires almost half of all American families to pay, on average, an additional $1,400 in taxes simply because they are married. That is immoral.
"The Marriage Penalty Relief Act of 2000 adjusts the lowest 15 percent income tax bracket upward for married couples. This would change the amount married couples pay their lowest income tax on from $43,850 to $52,500. This helps couples regardless of whether they itemize deductions and take the standard deduction.
"In addition, the Marriage Penalty Relief Act of 2000 would increase the standard income tax deduction of married couples to twice that for single tax filers. Moreover, the bill would increase the income cutoff for lower-income couples who claim the earned income tax credit by $2,000."