European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 19, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pago 4 the stars and stripes sunday june 19, 1977 Calls tax welfare Laws harmful family Unity Basic Carter theme Byan Blackman Washington a president Carter says the government ought to give married working couples the same tax benefits available to unmarried working people who live together. He also says the government should remove from welfare programs the eco nomic encouragement for fathers to desert their families. The president in a philosophical Fath ers Day interview discussed the prob lems of the american family in 1977 and what the government might do to help. Away from his imposing antique desk in the Oval office he relaxed across the room in a Salmon coloured Wing chair. He talked of the problems his own Success has created for those close to him the aides who spend so much time at the White House that he s had to order them to see their families. The president dressed in Blue pin stripes sat with his legs crossed As Casu ally As he might in his favorite Blue jeans. Stretched to half hour the interview was scheduled to last 10 minutes but the president stretched it to half hour. Carter husband for almost 31 years father of four spoke of his own family life As a child of his Joy at being a Grandfather of his support for working mothers including his wife Rosalynn. Sending her on a diplomatic Mission to latin America proved to be one of the better things i be Ever done he said. Then he talked of his Hopes for the american family. In almost every program that his administration puts Forward he said the integrity of the family ought to be a  then pausing almost wistfully he added. I would be inclined to put it As a much greater Factor perhaps than some  discriminate against marriage even the tax Laws discriminate against the most traditional family value Marri age. Federal income taxes total less for two working single people who live together than for a married working couple. Congress has voted this year to reduce the difference but it still exists. And i would like to eliminate the Dis parity altogether Carter said. The new Standard deductions effective this year can total $1,200 More for two rtt of ? v get the message Jim Jim to nine 4, of Wichita kan., was enjoying a close up of a Friendly Pigeon at the capita in Washington. But whatever happened in the interim be tween these two pictures Little Jim came out second Best. And if it was a Carrier Pigeon Jim feels it was carry ing playfulness a Little too far. A single working people living together than for a married working couple filing jointly. Under the old Law the unmarried couple could have a $2,000 advantage when each took the Standard deduction. Married per sons tiling separate tax returns cannot get the same benefits available to unmarried  welfare Laws he said quite often Benefit handsomely the divided family. If the husband works full time at the mini mum wage he makes a certain income for his wife and children. But if he leaves Home or pretends to leave Home and Conti Nues to work and his family draws welfare payments their Standard of living can be greatly  divisive Force this Carter said is a divisive Force that the government artificially imposes on the family  but what will he do if he finds it expensive to eliminate Laws that make it financially beneficial for welfare families to breakup Carter replied we re struggling with that question now. I Don t think it would Cost a whole lot More to keep families to  the president declined to spell out proposals he might offer to change tax and welfare Laws. Does he approve of mothers working when they have Small children i think it s Good the president re plied adding that his wife went to work before their oldest child was 2 years old. Should the tax Laws be revised to give working mothers a better Deal in such areas As child care tax credits and social Security Day care problem Carter said. I Don t want to pre suppose the kinds of help we might want to give working mothers. But i think the Day care Center concept and the tax Laws among Oiler things ought to be designed to let a Parent be employed and also to pre vent children from suffering. Bui what form the tax Laws should take i d rather not say because we Are now working on a comprehensive tax Reform  Aid the country s educational system could be used More efficiently. The presi Dent said schools Haven t been adequately used after school hours. He said the after school program for his 9-year-old Daugh Ter. Amy really appeals to  they have what they Call an expanded school program where kids can come to school at 7 30 . And not leave until 6 p.m.," Carter said. This gives both parents Freedom to be employed or where there is Only one Parent that person can  computer programming Carter said Amy s fourth Grade after school curriculum includes computer pro Graming As Well As Spanish and photography. He said there is no truth to a Rumor that he plans to Transfer her from District of Columbia Public schools to private school. The reporter turned the discussion to homosexuality a topic of discussion around the country following repeal of a Florida ordinance Banning discrimination against homosexuals. Q. Let me ask you a question that has become troublesome in the last few weeks in Florida and has become a National Issue. 1 wonder if you think homosexuality is a threat to the family. Should they be Able to adopt children and teach school and marry a. 1 Don t see homosexuality As a threat to the family. What has caused the a Ichla publicized confrontations on homosexually is the desire of homosexuals Lor the rest of society to approve and to add its acceptance of homosexuality As a Normal sexual relationship. I Don t feel that it s a Normal interrelationship. But at the same time i dont feel that society through us Laws ought to abuse or harass the homosexual i think it s one of those things that is not accepted by most americans As a Normal sexual relationship. In my mind it s certainly not a substitute for the family life that 1 described to you. Q. Do you think they should be Able to adopt children or teach school would you be upset if you knew Amy were being taught by a homosexual a. That s something i d rather not answer. I Don t see the need to change Laws to permit homosexuals to marry. I know that there Are homosexuals who teach and the children Don t suffer. But this is a subject i Don t particularly want to involve myself in. I be got enough problems without taking on another. Carter said that he thinks political life in the capital puts special strains on Marri Ages. I think in Washington there is a particular conflict Between ambition and the desire to do a Good Job which is legitimate on one hand and the obligations to hold your own families together and meet the needs of your spouse and children on the other. I Don t think the two Are necessarily  to obligations the president said when he has heard of a staffer s possible marriage problems Rosalynn and i have invited the family to come Over and let the children play with Amy and let us show them that you can have an aggressive dynamic competitive political career and at the same time maintain your allegiances and your obligations to your own family  couples should take marriage vows seriously Carter said. He added i m not trying to be a prude. I m not going to inter Fere with the right of people to make their own decisions under our  the president was asked whether he would counsel a member of his staff to marry the person he or she is living with. Carter said. "1 think i d have to judge that on Tii individual basis. 1 have to admit that on a few occasions i have counselled with members of my staff about that subject. I be never tried to Tell them what to do. I be never insinuated that they would be punished if they did  Carter has. On occasion offered some advice on the subject. While visiting the department of housing and Urban development in february he told employees we need a stable family life to make us belter servants of the people. So those of you who Are living in sin i Hope you  the president then commented on ideas about marriage and family life when hews a child. I think there was a much greater sense of social pressure to hold the family together he said. It was a disgrace at least where i grew up for a family to to Sepa rated. Divorce was not accepted As part  greater religious commitment he continued and i think there was a much greater sense of religious commit ment that the marriage vow was sacred and not Only was the love of a partner an important part of it but an obligation to be involved in honesty integrity truthfulness and faithfulness in times of adversity and in times when the ardor of physical Tove waned. There was almost a sense of betrayal when one left a marriage  president Carter the Parent is now a Grandfather. What does that mean to him this fathers Day. It s almost As Delight Ful to have a grandchild As it is to have one. Of your own children. We Are now experiencing the same Delight in seeing Jason age 22 months and James almost 4 months develop without the constant responsibility for their care and that ability  in and out of the life of a grand child and not have the constant responsibility for them is an additional element of he