Democrats in Congress are poised to play a leading role this month in thwarting their party's effort to raise income tax rates on the wealthy.Leave it to the Democrats to take a political winner of an issue and turn it into a political loser. I've detailed this before, but a strong majority of Americans -- including, remarkably, a plurality of Republicans -- favor hiking taxes on the wealthy. It's a measure that would help ensure that the already-too-large budget deficit doesn't get significantly larger. It's a fiscally conservative move. And yet a band of Democrats have it in their mind to join forces with the Republicans to thwart their own party's majority?
Tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 expire at the end of this year. President Barack Obama and Democratic congressional leaders have been eager to extend the breaks for individuals who earn less than $200,000 annually and joint filers who make less than $250,000. Those who earn more would pay higher, pre-2001 rates starting next year.
However, a small but growing number of moderate Democrats are balking at boosting taxes on the rich. Many face electorates that recoil at the mention of any tax increase. Some represent areas that are loaded with wealthier taxpayers. Further, some incumbent senators who don't face voters this fall are reluctant to increase taxes on anyone while the economy remains sluggish.
What the Democrats should be doing right now is not throwing their party under the bus in order to cater to wealthy donors. Instead, Democrats should be going on the floor of the House and the Senate to force Republicans to oppose tax cuts for the vast majority of taxpayers to save their unpopular pet project of keeping taxes low on the wealthiest Americans; either the GOP goes along with the Democrats, or they are keeping most other Americans from maintaining their lower tax rates.
This shouldn't be hard. The American people tend to agree with the Democratic position. So why are the Democrats making it so hard?
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