Families Paying Alternative Minimum Tax Increased 12-Fold under Bush

As taxpayers across the country work to beat tomorrow's tax filing deadline, more middle class families will be writing a larger check to the federal government, because President Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress have refused to address the growing problem posed by the alternative minimum tax.

In fact, more than 12 million families are expected to be ensnared by the alternative minimum tax this year. Just four years ago, when Bush first took office only 1 million families were subject to the higher tax rates, originally intended to apply to only very wealthy taxpayers.

"President Bush and Republicans in Congress are twiddling their thumbs as 12 million middle class families are confronting an income tax increase this year," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "While the President says he cares about tax cuts, it's clear that his party doesn't care about the 12 million middle class families who taxes are going up."