USATODAY.com - Families, the rich stand to gain most

Another analysis. the most important findings are the social engineering to reward families and punish singles and gays.

The family-oriented tax relief comes at a time when the number of unmarried taxpayers is at a record high. Never-married, widowed and divorced taxpayers account for 43% of the U.S. population. In 13 states, unmarried taxpayers make up more than half of the population, says Thomas Coleman, executive director of the American Association for Single People, an advocacy group.

For example, a single, childless taxpayer with adjusted gross income of $50,000 and no dividend-paying stocks would save $326 in 2003 under the Bush plan, according to CCH. A married couple with two children and adjusted gross income of $50,000 would save $1,133.

Unmarried couples also get a much smaller tax break. An unmarried, childless couple with a combined income of $100,000 would save about $652 in taxes. A married childless couple with the same income would save up to $2,193, according to CCH.

Robert McIntyre, director of Citizens for Tax Justice, says politicians overlook singles because many singles — particularly those ages 18 to 24 — don't vote. And for many singles, their marital status is "mainly a way of life, rather than a political cause," Coleman says.

But as the tax burden shifts to singles, that could change.

"I'm wondering if in a couple of years we won't be hearing people grumbling about the bachelor tax."

This is a Republican tax plan to reward people who vote Republican. Singles and lower incomes vote Democratic.