House OKs Tax Relief for Married Couples
House Republicans pushed through legislation Thursday granting permanent tax relief to married couples, overriding Democratic complaints that they were draining Social Security trust funds to gain election-year advantage.
The 271-142 vote sent the bill to the Senate, where Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) gave it a tepid reception.
“We don’t want to have a $42-billion annual tax increase that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2011, because people are married,” said Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).
But Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said the bill is part of a “fiscal irresponsibility rampage” by Republicans, coming on the heels of last week’s bill making estate tax repeal permanent.
“With all the work we’ve got to do, I think it would be difficult to anticipate another tax debate,” Daschle said.
Under the legislation that House Republicans pushed, tax relief targeted to married couples beginning in 2005 would be extended permanently.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
