When the new majority implemented "pay-go" spending rules last fall, the American people thought they were getting a check on runaway congressional spending - not an excuse to raise taxes. Congress would offset any dollar of new government spending, we were told, with spending reductions in other areas. 




Sadly, this year the majority has done nothing to change its profligate ways. Congress’ spending proposal came out $23 billion over the president’s budget request, an overall increase of over 10 percent from last year’s levels. Instead, Democrats have used pay-go as a pretext for a wave of new tax increases. Their strategy, disguised in the garb of “fiscal responsibility,” threatens to deal a decisive blow to American prosperity at a tense moment for our economy.
How does their stealth work? Consider the ongoing logjam over Congress’ attempt to patch up the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Because this tax was never indexed for inflation, 19 million additional taxpayers this year will be caught in its ever-expanding web, swelling the ranks of AMT payers to 23 million. Previous congresses have implemented a patch for middle-class AMT payers. But the inaction of this Congress has placed 23 million taxpayers at risk of a $2,000 tax increase this fiscal year.




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