House Dems United in Support of Obama Tax Plan

President Barack Obama’s allies — like Warren Buffett — have said if the top tax rate is raised, the income threshold should be as well. But House Democrats are united in backing tax hikes for those making above $250,000. In fact, some have called for even lowering the income threshold. 

Rep. John Larson (D-CT), who heads the House Democratic Caucus, on Wednesday said the “caucus is behind the president and the leader with respect to that number.”

“We have people in our caucus who think, in fact, that it could be lower … and we have people that believe, you know, that it could be higher,” Larson said, according to The Hill. “But the caucus, time after time, because we’ve had this discussion, is there [at $250,000].”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama have both indicated that Obama has a mandate to raise taxes on those making over $250,000 even though House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has said voters “made clear that there is no mandate for raising tax rates” by allowing Republicans to maintain control of the House. 

Pelosi has said said Obama campaigned on raising taxes on those making more than $250,000 and “the American people support that.”

Buffett has suggested the top bracket be raised to $500,000 per family. Pelosi and Larson both left some wiggle room while also making clear that Obama would veto any bill that did not raise taxes on families making more than $250,000.