Democrats are determined to deal with the marriage penalty. Lott rejected the list. They are intended to mess up the marriage penalty tax. One reason for the marriage penalty is a standard deduction for couples that's less than two single people would get. The system hurts about 42 percent of couples, while helping about 51 percent.
Couples often end up paying lower taxes when one spouse earns significantly more than the other.
The Republican bill, sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman William Roth of Delaware and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, would equalize the standard deduction and income tax brackets so the rate for married couples is twice that of singles. It would also grant relief to low-income couples by altering the Earned Income Tax Credit, which benefits low income workers through a partial refund of payroll taxes. Democrats said they were cut out of talks to fashion either the House or Senate bill, and the Clinton administration has promised to veto either one. Democrats were pushing their own alternatives. Click here for latest religion news.