I received this from reliable home-schooling friends & am passing this info onto interested/concerned taxpayers, since I've read TMFTaxes articles regarding the reality of the tax marriage penalty.
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Marriage Tax Penalty--Finally Everyone Agrees

Requested Action:Call your congressman by Wednesday, February 2, 2000, and give them this message (you do not need to be a home schooler): "Please SUPPORT marriage penalty relief in the Ways and Means Committee that provides the quickest resolution of this unfair provision in the tax code."

You can contact your congressman directly or by phoning the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Following are the members of the committee that need to receive calls:
Bill Archer (R-7-TX), Chairman
Philip M. Crane (R-8-IL)
Bill Thomas (R-21-CA)
E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R-22-FL)
Nancy L. Johnson (R-6-CT)
Amo Houghton (R-31-NY)
Wally Herger (R-2-CA)
Jim McCrery (R-4-LA)
Dave Camp (R-4-MI)
Jim Ramstad (R-3-MN)
Jim Nussle (R-2-IA)
Sam Johnson (R-3-TX)
Jennifer Dunn (R-8-WA)
Mac Collins (R-3-GA)
Rob Portman (R-2-OH)
Philip S. English (R-21-PA)
Wes Watkins (R-3-OK)
J.D. Hayworth (R-6-AZ)
Jerry Weller (R-11-IL)
Kenny Hulshof (R-9-MO)
Scott McInnis (R-3-CO)
Ron Lewis (R-2-KY)
Mark Foley (R-16-FL)
Charles B. Rangel (D-15-NY)
Fortney Pete Stark (D-13-CA)
Robert T. Matsui (D-5-CA)
William J. Coyne (D-14-PA)
Sander Levin (D-12-MI)
Benjamin L. Cardin (D-3-MD)
Jim McDermott (D-7-WA)
Gerald D. Kleczka (D-4-WI)
John Lewis (D-5-GA)
Richard E. Neal (D-2-MA)
Michael R. McNulty (D-21-NY)
William J. Jefferson (D-2-LA)
John S. Tanner (D-8-TN)
Xavier Becerra (D-30-CA)
Karen L. Thurman (D-5-FL)
Lloyd Doggett (D-10-TX)

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.

Last week the congressional leadership announced that their top priority for this session would be to eliminate the unfair marriage penalty in the tax code, and last night President Clinton included the issue in his State of the Union address.

The question is, how fast will the penalty be eliminated? Some prefer phasing in the reduction over 10 years, others are encouraging a quicker resolution of the problem, with a phase-in over 5 years. HSLDA strongly prefers that this unfair provision be eliminated as quickly as possible.

The House Ways and Means Committee is poised to move on legislation to eliminate the marriage penalty as early as February 2. It is critical that the members of the committee hear from families immediately and hear that you prefer that they phase in the reduction
as soon as possible.

It is likely that this bill will move to the House floor the following week.

You have received this alert because you live in the congressional district of a member of the Committee. Your response is critical.

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 percent think it is very unfair). Wirthlin Worldwide, 8/99.

- 80 percent of Americans favor eliminating the marriage tax penalty
(58 percent 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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National Center for Home Education
P.O. Box 3000
Purcellville, VA 20134
(540) 338-7600
http://www.hslda.org
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