Paying a Fair Share Act

U.S. Senator Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has introduced a tax bill named the Paying a Fair Share Act.

This is the Buffett Rule. It would apply only to taxpayers with income over $1 million. At income levels over $2 million, there would be a flat 30% tax. At income between $1 million and $2 million there would be a phase-in to get the effective tax rate to 30%.

The bill is co-sponsored by the following:

·         Sen Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii

·         Sen Mark Begich, D-Alaska

·         Sen Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

·         Sen Tom Harkin, D-Iowa

·         Sen Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

·         Sen Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

·         Sen Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

It is very doubtful that this bill is going anywhere.

Here is another proposal. We can call it the Biden Rule:

         Politicians who stay in Washington more than 10 years pay a 100% tax rate.

Thinking on This Week's Senate Surtax

The Senate Democrats have offered yet another tax to pay for yet another $447 billion stimulus package. They now want to impose a 5.6% surtax on income over $1 million per couple.

Let’s add-up the increases that are being discussed or have already been passed into legislation:

·         The expiration of the Bush tax cuts                          39.6%

·         The phase-out of itemized deductions (Pease)        1.19%

·         The phase-out of personal exemptions (PEP)           1.15%

·         The Medicare surtax on investment income            3.8%

·         The Medicare surtax on earned income                    0.9%                   

·         This week’s Senate Democrat proposal                    5.6%

                                                                                              --------------            

                                                                                                                       52.24%                                                                          

I doubt this list is complete as the above is just off the top of my head. 

You get the idea.