President Obama used his weekly address to continue pressuring lawmakers to pass his "Buffett Rule” proposal, saying the measure would make the tax code more fair and help fund needed investments to grow the economy.
"As many Americans rush to file their taxes this weekend, it’s worth pointing out that we’ve got a tax system that doesn’t always uphold the principle of everyone doing their part," Obama said in the address posted online Saturday.
"This is not just about fairness, this is also about growth,” he added. “It’s about being able to make the investments we need to strengthen our economy and create jobs. And it’s about whether we as a country are willing to pay for those investments.
The address is the latest effort in a public relations push from the White House to pressure Republicans to adopt the measure, named after billionaire investor Warren Buffet, which would raise taxes on the wealthiest of Americans.
The Senate is expected to vote on the proposal Monday, but the bill faces strong opposition from the GOP.
Obama said the plan had broad support from most voters. “It’s pretty sensible. Most Americans support this idea. One survey found that two-thirds of millionaires do, too. So do nearly half of all Republicans.”
“We just need some Republican politicians to get on board with where the country is,” he said.
Democrats have pushed the proposal for months, but last week the administration intensified efforts to build support for the bill with Obama traveling to Florida to deliver an address hitting the GOP for their resistance.
Republicans, including presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney, say the proposal would do little to create jobs and is intended to distract voters from the administration’s failed policies.
In his address, Obama called on the public to pressure lawmakers to pass the tax reform.
“So I hope you’ll ask your Member of Congress to step up and echo that call this week by voting for the Buffett Rule,” said Obama. “Remind them that in America, prosperity has never just trickled down from a wealthy few. Prosperity has always been built by a strong, thriving middle class. That’s a principle worth reaffirming right now.”
“We can’t stop investing in the things that will help grow our economy and create jobs – things like education, research, new sources of energy – just so folks like me can get another tax cut,” he said.
