Washington, D.C. - Rep. Nathan Deal joined today with the majority of the House of Representatives in voting for H.R. 6, The Marriage Tax Elimination Act of 2001. "I supported this bill for a simple reason. Two people should not pay higher taxes because they decide to marry. Americans pay too much in taxes, and married couples are subjected to an even heavier burden than single individuals. Congress should be encouraging marriage rather than allowing the IRS to punish people for exchanging sacred vows. Nearly 25 million couples will save money from the repeal of the Marriage Tax Penalty," Deal stated.

H.R. 6 will increase the standard deduction for married couples filing joint returns to an amount equal to twice the standard deduction for an unmarried individual filing as a single taxpayer, and will increase the upper limit of the 15 percent tax bracket for these couples to an amount of twice the upper limit for an unmarried individual filing as a single taxpayer. It similarly equalizes the Alternative Minimum Tax exemption. H.R. 6 will also double the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000 per child, further aiding American families.

Deal noted: "The elimination of the Marriage Tax Penalty fits into the Republican Budget Resolution passed yesterday in the House by a vote of 222-205. The budget uses the surplus for paying debt, strengthening retirement security, improving education, and improving health care. The government still has money left over, and we need to give that money back to the people who paid it."