President Barack Obama will veto any congressional legislation that
extends Bush-era tax cuts to wealthier Americans, the White House made
clear on Monday.
"He would not support it. He would not sign that bill," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters when asked whether Obama would veto any bill passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives that keeps tax cuts in place across-the-board for all income levels.
Carney spoke after Obama called for a one-year extension of the Bush-era cuts for families earning less than $250,000 a year, seeking to put Republicans on the defensive and reinforce his re-election campaign mantra of being a middle-class champion.
Obama wants to let tax cuts enacted by Republican President George W. Bush, his predecessor, expire on Jan. 1 for higher income earners.
During his speech, Obama — eager to shift election-year attention away from the nation's lackluster jobs market — called on Congress to extend tax cuts for only low and middle income earners while allowing taxes to increase for families that make more than a quarter-million a year.
"Let's not hold the vast majority of Americans and our economy hostage while we debate the merits of another tax cut for the wealthy," said Obama, flanked by a dozen people the White House said would benefit from the middle class-oriented tax cut extension.
"He would not support it. He would not sign that bill," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters when asked whether Obama would veto any bill passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives that keeps tax cuts in place across-the-board for all income levels.
Carney spoke after Obama called for a one-year extension of the Bush-era cuts for families earning less than $250,000 a year, seeking to put Republicans on the defensive and reinforce his re-election campaign mantra of being a middle-class champion.
Obama wants to let tax cuts enacted by Republican President George W. Bush, his predecessor, expire on Jan. 1 for higher income earners.
During his speech, Obama — eager to shift election-year attention away from the nation's lackluster jobs market — called on Congress to extend tax cuts for only low and middle income earners while allowing taxes to increase for families that make more than a quarter-million a year.
"Let's not hold the vast majority of Americans and our economy hostage while we debate the merits of another tax cut for the wealthy," said Obama, flanked by a dozen people the White House said would benefit from the middle class-oriented tax cut extension.
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