Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, May 19, 1998

1 407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 1998 CONTACT: Richard Cross 202-225-3061 MAJORITY LEADER ARMEY SIGNS ONTO EHRLICH INNOCENT SPOUSE "BILL House Majority Leader Dick Armey has cosponsored legislation introduced by Congressman Bob Ehrlich (MD-2) which will protect women from being unfairly saddled with a current or former husband’s tax bill. “Majority Leader Armey understands the need to restore fairness to a tax code which harms the hard working citizens it is supposed to serve," Congressman Ehrlich stated. “His support will be instrumental to my effort to extend tax relief to as many as 50,000 taxpayers, mostly women, who find themselves facing an IRS nightmare caused by someone else’s tax debt.” Ehrlich’s bipartisan bill (H. R. 3650) was inspired by the case of Gretchen Albaugh, a constituent from whom the Internal Revenue Service sought payment for a $29,000 tax bill amassed by her former husband. When Ms. Albaugh appealed to the IRS for relief under what are known as the “innocent spouse provisions” of the tax code, she was rebuffed. H. R. 3650 will expand innocent spouse protections by allowing a spouse to accept liability only for taxes resulting from his or her income, rather than the total liability for all the couple’s taxes. The Senate passed similar legislation as part of the IRS reform bill adopted c earlier this month.