To begin the phase-in of the elimination of the marriage penalty in the standard deduction in 2002 and to offset the revenue loss.

Marriage Penalty Elimination. This amendment by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) to the tax cut bill would eliminate the "marriage penalty" in the income tax laws by the year 2008 and substantially increase the standard deduction for married couples beginning in 2002.

The Senate rejected the Hutchison amendment to H.R. 1836 on May 17, 2001 by a vote of 27-73 (Roll Call 113). We have assigned pluses to the yeas.