
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 23, 1994                    TAG: 9406220003 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A12    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940623                                 LENGTH:

TAX BREAK BREEDS CHILDREN

{LEAD} There has been a lot of talk recently about welfare reform. One reasonable idea is to implement a ``No extra funds for mothers on assistance who have additional children'' mandate.

Many supporters of this proposed policy say that they cannot go to their employers and ask for a pay increase when a new child is added to the family. While that is correct, these folks do not hesitate to have the taxpayers help them in paying for the rearing of their broods. How many do not take the personal exemption for the additional child?

{REST} Presently, the Internal Revenue Service allows a $2,350 deduction for each family member. In the 28 percent bracket that is a savings of $658 in federal income taxes, plus substantial savings in state and local levies. This $658 is more than many states give to welfare mothers for each additional child. And that is money that less-prolific taxpayers have to make up.

Since these breeders will be using more of the country's resources - schools, roads, water, etc. - and cause additional polluting of the environment, they should not get a tax break but be charged extra. There should be a negative $2,350 deduction on families for each child over a total of two.

Those who want to have a bunch of kids should support them themselves, not ask the taxpayers of this country for help.

MARTIN FREED

Quinby, June 1, 1994 by CNB