Hensarling's Floor Statement on the Marraige Penalty Tax

Hensarling's Floor Statement on the Marriage Penalty Tax

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Jeb Hensarling issued the following statement urging support for the passage of H.R. 4181, a bill to end the marriage penalty tax and return $12 billion to working families:

"Today this body has some very important decisions to make. Do we really want to raise taxes on married couples by bringing back the unfair 'marriage penalty' to our tax code?

"Do we really want to tax the institution that represents the greatest social welfare program in the history of our nation, the American family?

"Do we want to start rolling back the tax relief that is responsible for making the U.S. the fastest growing economy in the world last year...
...the tax relief that has helped bring the highest rate of home ownership in the history of our nation...
...the tax relief that has helped create over three-quarters of a million new jobs...
...the tax relief that has actually brought in more tax revenue to our U.S. Treasury?

"The answer should be a resounding 'NO.'

"If we choose to revive the marriage penalty, 30 million married couples will face an average tax increase of $369 next year. The same number of couples will see an tax increase of more than $700 starting in 2011. That's a rental payment or two for an apartment, a home computer for a son or daughter, or weeks of child care.

"At a time when tax relief is fueling our economic recovery, now is not the time to raise taxes on families or reinstitute unjust penalties on married couples who working hard to realize the American dream."