Voters Still Support Pres. Obama’s Plan to Raise Taxes on Rich

Extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for middle class favored

Whether or not he’s re-elected, President Barack Obama faces an uphill battle with the current Congress on raising taxes on the rich.

A new survey by the Pew Research Center suggests the American people are behind his plan to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for people making less than $250,000, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The survey found 44 percent of those polled agree that a tax increase on the rich would help the economy, while 22 percent said it would be harmful. Another 24 percent said the tax hike would make no difference.

On a separate question, 44 percent said a tax hike on the rich would make the system fairer. Twenty-one percent said a hike would make it less fair.

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From the LAT story:

Mitt Romney, his probable Republican opponent, has said raising taxes on the well-to-do would hurt the economy and cost sorely needed jobs.

The tax cuts are scheduled to expire at the end of the year, unless Congress acts. Neither White House officials nor congressional leaders expect a tax bill to pass before the Nov. 6 election.

The Pew poll, conducted last week, surveyed more than a thousand adults.

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