Levin takes up the bank tax

With health reform through the House, the chamber's top tax writer will turn his attention to taxing banks that take extraordinary risks. 

"I promises my distinguished colleagues that we would discuss that next week -- if health passes," Ways and Means Chairman Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) told reporters last week. 

Levin also spoke about conducting a study on how the tax might affect the finance industry. There are questions on how to structure a tax that is based on liabilities (or risks) instead of income.