#1 GOP 'tax cut' stimulus: Raise taxes on 26 million.
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:28 pm
Ways and Means spokesman, Matthew Beck.
Years ago, after the seeing the creative use of deductions by the wealthy to pay no taxes, someone put forth a simple law: A minimum you would have to pay if you made too much money. Simple, to the point. You can't, if you're making millions, owe no taxes.
Inflation happened. Now 26 million, mostly middle class, would have to pay even more taxes because there's massive resistance to a permenant change. There's an annual frenzy to pass a 'patch' to limit the carnage.
Guess What The Republican Version Didn't Have In It.
To explain what the hell this means:In 2008, 4.2 million Americans had to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). The Republican proposal would lower marginal tax rates for individuals, but would not reduce AMT rates. Current law requires you to pay the greater of the two rates, so many of those receiving this lower marginal rate would now be held liable for the AMT.
There is no question that Congress needs to — and will — act to prevent the number of taxpayers hit by the AMT from growing to an estimated 26 million this year. However, we confirmed with the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation that 26 million people would still be forced to pay the AMT this year under the GOP bill. Essentially, their tax bill would give with one hand and take away with the other, leaving 26 million families without the tax cut they promised in their bill.
Years ago, after the seeing the creative use of deductions by the wealthy to pay no taxes, someone put forth a simple law: A minimum you would have to pay if you made too much money. Simple, to the point. You can't, if you're making millions, owe no taxes.
Inflation happened. Now 26 million, mostly middle class, would have to pay even more taxes because there's massive resistance to a permenant change. There's an annual frenzy to pass a 'patch' to limit the carnage.
Guess What The Republican Version Didn't Have In It.