A day after unveiling a plan to extend some of the Bush tax cuts, President Obama goes to Iowa on Tuesday to sell his new election year push on taxes, a plan that would keep tax rates the same for those making less than $250,000 a year in taxable income.
"The American people are with me on this," the President said at a White House event that seemed to have the sound of a campaign event.
"In many ways, the fate of the tax cut for the wealthiest Americans will be decided by the outcome of the next election," Mr. Obama added. "My opponent will fight to keep them in place. I will fight to end them."
Republicans from Mitt Romney on down ridiculed the Obama plan as nothing but politics, accusing the Obama Administration of class warfare.
"We're not here to try and shelter the rich," said Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA). "We're here to empower business," Isakson argued on the Senate floor.
Both sides pointed the finger of blame at each other over what faces Washington and the nation in just a few months - when the Bush tax rates, a payroll tax cut and much more are due to expire.
And for now, there's still no deal - but a lot of maneuvering by both parties on what should happen with the expiring Bush tax framework. If nothing is done, rates will go back up to where they were at the end of the Clinton Administration on all working Americans.
"Pass a bill extending the tax cuts for the middle class; I will sign it tomorrow. Pass it next week; I’ll sign it next week," the President told a friendly audience in the East Room.
Down Pennsylvania Avenue, the sense was the Obama plan has no chance to get through the Congress, but there's also no sense of what both sides will agree to later this year.
The White House emphatically said the President would veto any plan that extends all of the Bush tax rates; but officials said that two years ago, when the President agreed to a two year extension.
