What's Dems position re Gov's "financial disincentives to marriages"

[papau]

http://brownback.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=255057

Senator Sam Brownback (R) made some noise today about federal and local policies that create financial disincentives to marriage, saying “Research shows that children raised by married parents are far more likely to avoid poverty, crime, and failure in school,” said Senator Brownback. “By creating financial disincentives for low-income parents to get married, the welfare state actually discourages the behaviors that would be most beneficial for low-income parents and their children. Statistics prove what we all know, that children benefit from being reared by their married parents, and it is a moral and societal imperative that we foster and encourage the institution of marriage.”

He has even gotten HHS to produce online a "Marriage Calculator" that purports to "help" low-income couples see the negative financial impact of marriage on their taxes and benefits.

Now Brownbacks pet idea - the Marriage Development Accounts program -which is only in the District - and provides low-income couples with federal matching funds for money that is saved to buy a home, pay for job training or education, or start a business - has not gotten much media (positive or negative).

But what is the Dem position on this "values" issue?

[Bill McBlueState]

1. marriage equality advocates would disagree

Here's a list of 1,138 benefits available to married couples at the federal level. This was complied not by wild-eyed activists, but by the government's own accounting office. Apparently marriage isn't the awful deal Brownback wants it to be, for whatever reason.

[papau]

2. Brownback is focused on welfare program reductions if married

I like your list!

I knew my wife married me for a reason!

:-)