NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story: tax cuts in an election year, a marriage made in political heaven. Sometime this afternoon, Republicans in the Senate are expected to take the plunge on a quarter-trillion-dollar tax cut for married couples. The House is expected to go along, but the honeymoon will be short. President Clinton promises a veto. Here with the latest, CNN's Kate Snow on Capitol Hill -- Kate.</s>KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Natalie, the Senate has taken a break for lunch but as soon as they come back this afternoon we do expect them to pass this Republican-sponsored bill. The bill would change the way millions of married couples file their taxes. Specifically, it would give couples a standard deduction that would be equal to double the standard deduction for single people. It sounds logical, but that is not the way it works right now. They are trying to provide this relief. Republicans saying that this could give a big benefit to working families.</s>SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (R), TEXAS: If a schoolteacher who makes $30,000 a year marries a policeman who makes $32,000 a year, they pay a marriage penalty of over $1,000 a year. Our bill would eliminate that penalty over the next five years.</s>SNOW: But over the next 10 years it would cost about $248 billion. Democrats and the White House they say that is too high a price tag. They say there are better ways to spend these budget surpluses.</s>REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D), MINORITY LEADER: When it comes to taxes, Republicans haven't changed their tune. They are more interested in taking care of their wealthy friends than working families. Their scheme targets the wealthiest five percent of American families. It gives the most help to GOP campaign contributors and deep pocket lobbyists.</s>SNOW: Now the White House has accused Republicans here on the Hill of playing politics in this election year. They say that they are trying to force President Clinton to veto this so they can talk about it at their Republican convention later this month. Kate Snow, CNN, live, Capitol Hill.
White House Threatens Veto if Congress Votes to Eliminate 'Marriage Penalty'