House Democrats sided with President Clinton Wednesday in failing to override Clinton’s veto of the marriage tax penalty. The vote was 270-158 meaning the override vote failed by only 16 votes of the required two-thirds majority necessary for the veto override. Forty-nine Democrats voted with the Republican majority to override the veto and 157 Democrats voted with the President.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey spoke out after the vote, saying, “Americans understand it is wrong to tax marriage. We will have to put it up on the floor next year and have a president who will sign it.” Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer chimed in, “[Americans] will have to vote for new leadership in the White House if they want fairness and justice in the tax code.”

Democrats contend the bill was a sham from the start. “You don’t want to pass laws. You want to pass bills that are going to be vetoed,” said Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-NY. Clinton had made it clear from the start he would veto this bill.