July 23, 2010Geithner: Taxes on Wealthiest to Rise
The Obama administration will allow tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to expire on schedule, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday, setting up a clash with Republicans and a small but vocal group of Democrats who want to delay the looming tax increases.
Timothy Geithner in Washington last week. He said the White House would let taxes on top earners increase as part of an effort to cut the deficit.
Mr. Geithner said the White House would allow taxes on top earners to increase in 2011 as part of an effort to bring down the U.S. budget deficit. He said the White House plans to extend expiring tax cuts for middle- and lower-income Americans, and expects to undertake a broader revision of the tax code next year.
"We believe it is appropriate to let those tax cuts that go to the most fortunate expire," Mr. Geithner said at a breakfast with reporters.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the Obama administration will allow tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to expire despite calls from a small group of Democrats to delay tax increases. Kelly Evans talks to John McKinnon in Washington.
His comments came as a number of Democrats, among them North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, have begun agreeing with Republicans and some economists who want to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for all earners, including couples earning above $250,000 and individuals earning above $200,000. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, added his voice on Thursday, saying through a spokesman that he was "concerned about the impact of allowing the tax cuts to expire during our fragile economic recovery."
Mr. Geithner said there's "still some uncertainty about how strong the recovery is going to be," which may be affecting spending decisions by businesses and individuals. He discounted that as a reason to extend the tax cuts for top earners, saying most private forecasts show moderate economic growth and increasing public confidence in the recovery.
Pressure is growing on the administration from a small number of Democratic lawmakers to extend all the Bush cuts, which include taxes on investment income and capital gains.
"I think given the fragility of the recovery, the timing is wrong for any kind of tax increase of this nature," Rep. Gerry Connolly (D., Va.) said. "I know that puts me out of step with many in my own caucus, but it's important for members to remember the top 5% [of earners] generates 30% of consumer spending."Mr. Connolly said there were "lots of conversations going on sotto voce" among House Democrats over whether to extend current tax levels for all earners, not just the middle class.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told lawmakers Thursday the U.S. "should maintain our stimulus in the short term." Extending the Bush tax cuts "is one way" of doing that, he said. "There are other ways as well."
Many economists say raising rates on top earners could prompt consumers to rein in spending. A Goldman Sachs research report projects the expiration of the tax cuts could shave just under 0.5 percentage points off growth in 2011.
**All the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire at the end of this year, meaning Congress must act if it wants to avoid raising taxes across the board. Political strategists said that could give Republicans an edge, since they could essentially hold the entire package hostage unless Democrats agree to extend the cuts for high-income earners.
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