Senate Democrats Have Backed Boehner's Fiscal Cliff 'Plan B' Millionaire Tax Hike In The Past

Eleven Senate Democrats have expressed support for raising rates on millionaires over the last two years. Majority Leader Harry Reid insists it can't pass the chamber.

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may not like Speaker John Boehner’s plan to raise taxes on millionaires as part of a fiscal cliff deal, but that doesn’t mean his Democratic colleagues don’t.

In fact, over the last two years 11 Senate Democrats — Sens. Chuck Schumer, Kent Conrad, Mark Begich, Barbara Boxer, Tom Carper, Bob Casey, Joe Lieberman, Claire McCaskill, Bill Nelson, Jim Webb and Robert Menendez — have all publicly backed increasing tax rates on millionaires in one form or another.

“Drawing the line at $1 million is the right thing to do,” Schumer told Politico in 2011.

Republicans Tuesday also noted that in 2010 the Senate voted 53 to 37 in support of a plan that would have raised taxes on millionaires.

Of course, the details of those plans and Boehner’s larger fiscal cliff “plan b” differ, and Democrats insist they have the public’s support thanks to November’s election results.

But Republicans were nevertheless gleefully using their statements and votes against them.

“For years, Washington Democrats – led by Sen. Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi – have been calling for a bill to stop the tax hikes except on millionaires. They even voted in favor of it. To oppose it now would make them entirely responsible for the tax hikes that tens of millions of Americans face in less than two weeks. They know that, and the President knows that,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said.

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