I wanted to forward one more email to you today. Like you, I’ve signed up for a few email lists.

On Monday, President Obama’s team sent an email about the Buffett Rule — legislation that makes sure people who make more than $1 million a year pay their fair share in taxes.

The President didn’t ask me to do this, but I wanted to double check that you’d seen this email. It’s that important.

In 2009, there were 22,000 households making more than $1 million annually but paying less than 15% of their income in income taxes — and 1,470 paid no federal income taxes at all.

My opponent, Republican Senator Scott Brown, agrees with Mitt Romney that it’s okay for millionaires and billionaires to pay a lower tax rate than everyone else. He wants to block the Buffett Rule. I think that’s wrong, and I’m standing with President Obama on this.

To me, the Buffett Rule shows what this upcoming election is all about. It’s a clear choice: do we want a Senator who protects millionaires and billionaires while voting against rebuilding roads and bridges and voting against preventing layoffs for our teachers?

Or do we want to level the playing field, to change the rules so millionaires don’t pay a lower tax rate than everyone else, and to use that money to honor our promises to our parents and to make the investments so more kids have their chance to get ahead?

Thanks,

Elizabeth

 

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From: Jim Messina, BarackObama.com
Sent: Monday, April 9, 2012
Subject: Buffett Rule

Elizabeth –

Warren Buffett, a billionaire, pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.

Think that’s unfair? So does Warren Buffett.

Right now, millionaires and billionaires have nearly the lowest tax rates they’ve had in 50 years, while everyone else picks up the tab.

So President Obama is asking Congress to pass a commonsense bill, known as the Buffett Rule, to fix the tax code and make sure that millionaires and billionaires pay at least the same share of their income in taxes as middle-class families.

The Buffett Rule would reduce the deficit while helping to pay for investments in education, clean energy, jobs, and other programs that will help our economy grow.

If you think that’s fair, then speak up for it before Congress votes next week — stand with President Obama in asking the richest Americans to pay their fair share.

Many Republicans are dead-set against this commonsense step, so the unfortunate reality is that next week’s vote may not go our way.

But tax fairness is one of the defining issues in this election, and supporting this policy is one of the touchstones of this campaign.

Not only does Mitt Romney oppose the Buffett Rule, but he wants to protect special breaks and loopholes that help wealthy Americans like himself avoid paying their fair share — and he wants to shower them with even more tax breaks paid for by middle-class families and seniors.

If that’s not the kind of country you want to see for the next four years, do something about it now.

Join President Obama in urging Congress to pass the Buffett Rule:

http://my.barackobama.com/Pass-the-Buffett-Rule

Thanks — and stay tuned.

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

P.S. — After adding your name, check out our new Buffett Rule website to see exactly what it does, who’s behind it, and how you can help. Take a look, then pass it on.