Debt Before Marriage

My husband had about $4000 in credit card debt before we were married. I was aware of this and always tried to help out. We were both laid off a few months before our marriage, but I had plenty of money in savings to cover necessities and to help him out with his bills.
He now has only about half that amount in debt, but still refuses to let me help. I just want this debt gone and if he allowed me to pay some of it off, it would be gone already!
He insists that it was HIS debt before we were married and its not my responsibility, even if we are married now.
I hate being in debt. It frustrates me. I want this debt to be gone so we can be free of it.