U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey voted to support the permanent repeal of the marriage tax penalty and hailed its passage by a bipartisan vote, 323-95.

“Congress acted today to protect 30 million married couples from a tax hike by ending the marriage penalty for good,” Gingrey said Wednesday. “I feel strongly that our government has a compelling interest in promoting healthy marriages and healthy families. We help our nation by protecting the family budget from the federal budget.”

Before 2001, many married couples earning similar incomes paid more in taxes than two single taxpayers filing individually.  Tax relief passed by Congress in 2001 phased out most of these penalties by increasing the size of the 15 percent tax bracket and providing couples a standard deduction that is twice that of single taxpayers. 

The marriage penalty is currently scheduled to reappear next year in a smaller form and to be fully revived in 2011.  The average family of four will see its taxes rise by over $300 if the law isn’t enacted this year.