Links to:

Press Release: April 23, 2001

April 23 Ad in Washington Post: "82 Million Unmarried Americans Deserve to Know Why"

Op-Ed in San Diego Tribune:
"Millions of Unmarried Americans Need a Bit of Tax Relief Too"

Survey Form Sent to All
Members of Congress

Speech in Congress by
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

AASP Newsletter
on Unfair Taxation

June 2001 Newsletter:
What we did in Washington, who we met with, and how they responded.

Single and unmarried adults deserve to know where the President, members of Congress, and political party leaders stand on the problem of unfair taxation that penalizes unmarried Americans because of our marital status.  AASP has taken several steps to find out whether these officials believe that we are taxed unfairly, and if so, what actions they think should be taken to remedy this problem.

First, we mailed a letter to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and to each member of Congress.  We also sent a letter to the heads of several national organizations associated with both major political parties.  We included our most recent newsletter, which focused on tax issues, along with a short questionnaire.   We invited these officials to meet with us or at least reply with a letter sharing their views on these issues.

Next, we made telephone calls and sent faxes or e-mail messages to some of the higher ranking officials.  We again invited them to meet with us during May 1 to May 3 when we would be in Washington.

Then, we placed a two-thirds page advertisement in the Washington Post.  The ad, which is being published on Monday, April 23, calls attention to some of the questions which we would like these officials to answer, again inviting them to meet with us during our trip to the Capitol.

An advance team was sent to Washington on April 26.  Two staff members and an AASP volunteer visited the office of each member of Congress, dropping off a copy of the Washington Post ad and other materials.  A cover letter invited each Senator and Representative to share their views with us so that we can pass the information along to unmarried Americans, including their unmarried constituents.

During May 1 through May 3, Thomas F. Coleman, Executive Director, and Stephanie Knapik, Director of Public Affairs, will be met with the policy staff of several high ranking members of Congress and organizations affiliated with both major political parties.  We also met with a policy advisor to President George W. Bush.

We did not lobbying for or against any specific piece of legislation.  In fact, we acknowledged that we do not have all of the answers to solve the various types of unfair taxation of unmarried Americans.  The purpose of our going to Washington, and our meetings with these officials, was to begin an ongoing conversation about the needs and concerns of single and unmarried adults.

This was an historic trip.  To our knowledge, this was the first time that a national organization representing single and unmarried Americans met with such high ranking elected officials and national political party leaders. 

AASP wants all single and unmarried Americans to learn where their representatives and party leaders stand on issues involving unfair taxation. 

A full report on our trip to the Capitol is included in our June newsletter.

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