TAX EXEMPT COUPLES
California brings gay couples closer to equality with straight ones. But why the state income tax exception? More evidence, to my mind, that civil unions are no alternative to marriage and actually perpetuate cultural balkanization and civic inequality.
Alternatively, the state income tax exception--gay couples won't be allowed to file joint returns--demonstrates political clout. In a high-income, high-tax state like California, the marriage tax is significant. And, as I've noted before, research on the subject suggests that legalizing gay marriage would raise federal income tax revenue--by hitting those couples with extra taxes.
There are actually a host of questions raised by California's status as a community property state. From the news reports, it doesn't sound like the "split everything equally" rule necessarily applies to domestic partners.