Requested Action:
Call your congressman between Monday, February 7, and Wednesday, February 9, and give them this message (you do not need to identify yourself as a home schooler):
“Please SUPPORT H.R.6, The Marriage Tax Penalty Relief Act of 2000 that will make the tax code more fair for families.”
You can contact your congressman directly or by phoning the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Issue Update:
Finally everyone now agrees—married couples are unfairly treated in the American tax code.
One of HSLDA’s top legislative priorities over the last two years has been to eliminate the built-in penalty against married couples which currently exists in the American tax code. Because of your tireless efforts, congressional leaders have finally made marriage tax relief a priority.
In January, the congressional leadership announced that their top priority for this session would be to eliminate the unfair marriage penalty in the tax code, and President Clinton included the issue in his State of the Union address.
Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee marked up Congressman Archers bill, H.R 6, The Marriage Tax Penalty Relief Act of 2000. This bill is scheduled for a vote by the full House on Wednesday, February 9.
Your calls will have a positive impact on this vote. Please call your congressman and ask him to support marriage by voting for H.R. 6.
Background:
The marriage tax penalty is unfair.
Under the current tax code, the marriage penalty taxes the incomes of a married couple at a much higher rate than that of a cohabiting couple. If a married couple—with one income or two—makes the same income as two singles, the married couple will likely be paying higher taxes simply for being married.
According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, increasing the standard deduction and rate schedule for joint filers would compensate for the 66 provisions of the existing tax code that create marriage penalties.
Elimination of the marriage penalty is not only a necessary form of financial relief; it is also a very important policy change. It provides an opportunity for the government to recognize and support the vital contribution marriage makes to our society.
Eliminating the marriage tax treats all married couples equally, whether they earn one income or two.
Elimination of the marriage penalty would provide substantial relief to millions of American families. Couples who marry should not be penalized for making the daily commitments and sacrifices necessary to support their families.
- 85 percent of Americans think the marriage tax penalty is unfair (61% think it is very unfair). Wirthlin Worldwide, 8/99.
- 80 percent of Americans favor eliminating the marriage tax penalty (58% strongly favor its elimination). Wirthlin Worldwide, 8/99.
- 67 percent of Americans support using the budget surplus to eliminate or reduce the marriage tax penalty. Harris poll, 12/97.
Elimination of the marriage tax penalty provides the government an opportunity to recognize and support the vital contribution marriage makes to the betterment of our society.
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