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http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/22/biden-lets-make-a-deal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wsj%2Fwashwire%2Ffeed+%28WSJ.com%3A+Washington+Wire%29

Washington Wire

By Joseph B. White and Jared Favole

Vice President Joe Biden has a message for Republicans: Let’s make a deal.


Bloomberg
Biden, appearing on Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” said the administration is willing to consider raising from $250,000 the threshold at which higher taxes kick in under President Obama’s tax proposal.

The quid pro quo: Democrats get the tax cut they want – extending the Bush-era tax cuts for middle class families.

“I think it’s important we get the middle-class tax cut made permanent,” Biden said, adding: “We’re open to speak to the Republicans, if they really mean it, if they’re talking about deficit reduction, if they’re willing to move.”

The argument over where to draw the line on tax cuts has been a recurrent theme in the campaign.

Republicans say not extending the tax cuts for those making $250,000 would amount to a tax hike on small businesses.

The White House says not extending the tax cuts for top earners would affect 3% of small business owners. The president has railed on the campaign trail against giving tax cuts to “millionaires and billionaires,” arguing that the burgeoning federal deficit makes such a cut imprudent.

Biden tried out a more conciliatory approach to the nation’s wealthy.

“I don’t have any problem with wealthy people getting a tax cut. I mean, for real,’’ he said. “I mean, these are good guys.”


Eric D. Schwerin
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