Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, March 29, 2001

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Henry Fawell Thursday, March 29, 200 1 202/225-306 1 Congressman Ehrlich Is Fighting for Tax Relief for Maryland’s Families WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. (MD-2) today voted for fair, responsible tax relief for America’s middle-income families. H.R. 6, The Marriage Penalty and Family Tax Relief Act of 2001, was adopted in the House of Representatives by a vote of 282- 144. H.R. 6 represents the second phase of President Bush’s tax relief plan for America. Congressman Ehrlich stated, “Finally, Americans have a President and Congress that can work together to reign in the federal tax code and put family priorities first.” Specifically, H.R. 6 fixes the “marriage penalty” by expanding the 1 5 percent tax bracket that currently penalizes 28 million married couples who file joint returns. The marriage penalty taxes the income of the second wage earner at a much higher rate than if that spouse were to file separately. “Thousands of married couples in Maryland rely on two incomes to adequately care for their children,” Congressman Ehrlich explained. “This vote strips the federal tax code of penalties on marriage and gives those couples greater power to invest in their families.” H.R. 6 also doubles the child tax credit from $500 to $1 ,000 per child. Families can use the credit to purchase books, school supplies or simply to save for other family needs. Additionally, H.R. 6 permanently allows the child tax credit to offset the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). The AMT is a little-known, yet burdensome tax - originally implemented to target certain wealthy Americans - that has expanded over the years to target millions of innocent, middle-income families. Congressman Ehrlich continued, “Middle-income families cannot get ahead when the tax code favors the AMT over family-friendly incentives like the child-tax credit. Today, we relieved Maryland workers of the AMT and brought them one step closer to a long-deserved refund of their hard earned money.”