Divorce Prevention Legislation

Illinois "Has it backwards" with violence tax on marriages

Diane Sollee of Smart Marriages wrote:
ILLINOIS: ANOTHER STATE THAT HAS IT BACKWARDS

Marriage may cost more
By John Patterson
Daily Herald State Government Editor
Saturday, May 19, 2007

((Auuuugh. Here is another state, ILLINOIS, getting it backwards with
ridiculous legislation that would increase marriage license fees to fund
domestic violence programs.  That is wrong-headed and misguided and sends an
unfortunate and just plain WRONG message about marriage. Marriage IS a
domestic violence prevention program. Married women are least likely to
be victims of domestic violence. Cohabiting women are the #1 victims of
domestic violence. That is also true for children - they are safest in
intact first marriages, safer from both physical and sexual abuse.  If we're
going to tap marriage license fees, that money should pay for MARRIAGE
EDUCATION Classes to help marriages stay healthy, stable and intact.  Again,
this is why it's so important to give credit to TEXAS where they got it
right.  They're using a differential in marriage license fees to provide and
incentive to couples to take an 8-hr marriage education class. And, it's not
just the money, it's the message. Attaching "getting married" to domestic
violence is misleading. If you live in Illinois, state of the infamous "Life
is Short, Get a Divorce" billboard, do something. Call someone. - diane  ))

Federal tax marriage penalty "alive and well"

According to this article from the Wall Street Journal, by way of the Smart Marriages listserv.

> Among those stung by the marriage penalty are couples in which each spouse
> earns roughly the same and who itemize their deductions. In certain cases, the
> penalty can be so large that accountants urge some clients planning to get
> married to consider delaying the ceremony until the following year.

For the full article see the continuation.

Severe "marriage penalty" for the disabled

The following posting from Smart Marriages is a reminder that even though the Marriage Penalty in the federal tax code has been abolished (sort of, and not quite permanently), there are many kinds of marriage penalties out there for people who get various government assistance benefits. It is not about any actual legislation, as far as I know.

Brownback-Terry package

In March, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-KS and Rep. Lee Terry, R-NE, introduced a tax reform package including many breaks for families with small children, including provisions that would make the repeal of the marriage penalty permanent.
From a column by Michael J. McManus posted on the Smart Marrriages listserv.
If you have the bill numbers or updates on their status, please post a comment to add to this information.