Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (Larry Downing/Reuters)
Senate Democrats are
talking about a new strategy for tax reform that highlights the "Buffett Rule," the proposal stemming from billionaire Warren Buffett's campaign to pay a higher tax rate than his secretary. In his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Obama called for a the rule, saying that anyone making in the seven figures should have to pay at least 30 percent in taxes.
Those Democrats weren't just talking. They've got a proposal ready to go, according to Greg Sargent.
I’m told that Senator Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI] is set to announce a proposal to do just this. The Senate Dem leadership is not commenting on this idea, but Dem leaders are looking for ways to hold votes on the agenda Obama laid out in his State of the Union speech. This would accomplish that perfectly. [...]
Whitehouse’s office shared some details of the proposal — which is called “Paying A Fair Share Act,” and will be introduced by Whiteouse next week.
The bill would require millionaires (well, their accountants) to calculate their overall tax responsibility—taking into account all income under every tax rate—in the current system, excluding charitable donations. If their effective tax rate is less than 30 percent, they would be required to pay 30 percent of all their income.
Whitehouse is pushing for a stand-alone vote on this bill, for it not to become a part of a larger package. It has the advantage of not requiring any tinkering with the existing tax structure, it works with it, and thus can be voted on quickly and not included in a long and drug out serious of compromises required in a larger tax reform debate.
It would also have the advantage of putting Republicans on the record right now for tax fairness, when the topic is white hot. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should definitely force this issue now, and the Whitehouse proposal is the perfect vehicle for it.