03/29/1999 05:10 PM House EDT

HJR 20 - FEDERAL INCOME TAX MARRIAGE PENALTY                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PHILLIPS announced the first order of business was House                                                                  
Joint Resolution No. 20, urging the Congress to amend the Internal                                                              
Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the marriage penalty by providing                                                             
that income tax rate bracket amounts, and the amount of the                                                                     
standard deduction, for joint returns shall be twice the amounts                                                                
applicable to unmarried individuals.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG requested clarification on whether the                                                                  
resolution is intended to level the playing field or allow married                                                              
couples to pay more or less than a single person.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PHILLIPS explained that the resolution proposes that a                                                                    
married couple will have the same deductions as two single people.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Number 0138                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA made a motion to move HJR 20 out of committee                                                             
with individual recommendation.  There being no objection, HJR 20                                                               
was moved out of committee.