Senate passes bill honoring Hutchison by naming tax measure after her

The Senate passed a bill Thursday night that would rename part of U.S. tax code after retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas).

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) introduced S. 3667, which renames section 219(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA. The bill passed by unanimous consent. Hutchison was a leading advocate for the tax code that allows stay-at-home spouses to receive the same tax benefits as working spouses for contributing to a retirement account.

The tax benefit was seen as a big win for women in the 1980s. In her farewell speech to the Senate, Hutchison said she was proud to have the legislation as part of her legacy. 

She decided to retire from Senate service this year.

The Senate also passed several bills naming post offices that have already passed in the House, spending those bills naming the buildings to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

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