Durbin: Democrats stand by president on tax cuts

Senate Democrats largely united on letting tax cuts expire for those in the highest income brackets. 

"The overwhelming majority of the caucus supports the same position articulated by the president," Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters Tuesday. 

President Obama has called for extending tax cuts for the middle class while allowing tax breaks to expire for those individuals making $200,000 and up annually and couples making $250,000 and higher. 

Several Democrats, including Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Evan Bayh (Ind.), Kent Conrad (N.D.) and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) have suggested extending the tax cuts for everyone until the economy recovers. 

Durbin said no decision has been made on when and how the tax cuts will be considered. 

He gave the same answer when asked whether lawmakers would consider moving forward on extending middle-class tax cuts — where there appears to be broad agreement — before the midterm elections while waiting until the lame-duck session to deal with the tax cuts affecting wealthier taxpayers.