Obama says the plan is "the right thing to do."

Speaking at a prime-time news conference, the president said the change in tax policy would be realistic and fairer to lower-earning families that make charitable gifts but get a smaller tax deduction. Some lawmakers don't like the idea. They say it could hurt donations to needy groups in a time of need.

Obama says the provision would affect only about 1 percent of the American people, and they would still get a tax deduction, just not as big as they used to get.
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