Here's their reasoning. This, of course, is a ludicrous comparison. The better comparison is what this couple would have made in household income less taxes owed if both had continued working. That's because the economic cost of having one parent stay home with the kids far outweighs any tax benefit that may accrue because of marriage. The extraordinary thing is that this issue puts the Clinton Administration and many Democrats on the side of promoting tax relief for wealthier, two-earner households at the expense of families who sacrifice one income for their children.
Marriage is in deep trouble.
Revitalizing it can not be done at the margins. It will require a sustained and very public effort. Pretending that couples who forgo a second income in order to be home with their children somehow enjoy marriage bonuses doesn't help. Not even a little bit. Opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by members of the Coalition.