United States, the idea of taxing "mégariches" made its way
The lowest in the polls, criticized for running out of ways to boost employment, weakened by a largely sterile confrontation with the Republicans on the issue of reducing the rate of debt, Barack Obama sought to regain control. Anxious to win back centrist voters, the president also caress the idea of taxing the rich more, while the middle class is suffering from the sluggish economy.
It has been this week to support weight, in the person of Warren Buffett, the second property of the United States. For the latter, the "mégariches" are under-taxed. Buffett regrets having paid less than $ 7 million in federal taxes last year. This represents only 17.4% of its taxable income. He noted that employees pay on average, and as a percentage of their income, far more than him.The billionaire said that in 1992 the 400 richest U.S. taxpayers paid 29.2% of their income in federal taxes. But in 2008, their effective tax rate decreased to 21.5%, while in sixteen wealth is gone.
The two men do not speak yet not the same. The President wants to raise taxes for taxpayers earning more than $ 250,000 a year. Buffett, however, advocates the creation of new tax bands for income above one million dollars from all sources.The investor philanthropist also suggests an upper tax beyond $ 10 million, but fails to specify the desired level for these new units.
Impose more gains
Still, according to the Tax Policy Center, even 50% by taxing all income above one million, one that would release $ 48 billion in tax revenue over ten years, under very inadequate amount of resources to reduce the budget deficit. However, up to 15% to 20% maximum tax rate on capital gains as under Bill Clinton, would generate approximately $ 340 billion over ten years.
Warren Buffett's plea addressed especially to the twelve in fact members of Congress belonging to the commission that must by the end of November to $ 1.5 trillion proposed budget savings over ten years."It is vital that they manage to go beyond. Americans are rapidly losing their faith in the ability of Congress to address the fiscal problems of our country, "said Buffett, himself the son of an elected Republican Nebraska.
It is supported by another millionaire, Alan "Ace" Greenberg, former head of Bear Stearns: "To believe that, by raising taxes Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, they will begin to lay off staff is totally ridiculous … I'm not saying that tax increases should begin to 250,000 dollars in revenue. But they must start somewhere. At one million to two million, at least they should start, "says the bridge partner of the two richest people in the United States.
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