Marriage tax

Look what gummint is doing to your mom! Let's get'em.

In short order, Kimberly Strassel  [Make My (Mother's) Day . . .] captures the essence of several complicated issues that are hurting your mom.  Take the marriage penalty. ''Consider our system of marginal taxation. It's punitive enough for any individual, but consider the woman who, after having children, decides to go back as the "second earner" in her household. Her first discovery will be that -- even though she may only be earning a minimum wage -- she is instantly put into her husband's tax bracket.'' Or the health insurance monstrosity¹. ''And pity the woman who doesn't work a full 40-hour week. Our tax law has created a system that makes employees dependent on their employers for health care, retirement programs, childcare services and more. This is great if you work for Ford, since taxpayers everywhere subsidize your perks. Yet many women work part-time or in jobs in smaller companies that can't afford these extras. These women are left to purchase their own benefits with after-tax dollars. Or consider those dual-earner couples who have "duplicate" benefits. One set is wasted, yet current law makes it largely impossible for an employee to forgo perks in lieu of higher wages.'' I thought it was good enough to hide in my trunk, and steal across the border with it so you could have the whole thing.  Here. The Senate will be voting on the Marriage Penalty this week.  Pay attention.  ¹ Nixon’s 1973 Economic Stabilization Program froze wages.  Workers started bolting jobs in order to get a higher salary with a new company.  Unable to match the new offer (because pay raises were illegal, thank you very much)  employers offered perquisites, like paid health insurance.  In a heartbeat Congress critters turned this defensive measue into an obligation.