Majority of Americans:  Wealthy Not Taxed Enough

Sixty-eight percent of respondents to a new AP poll said the wealthy aren't paying enough in taxes. (Photo: Yuri Keegstra/flickr/cc)

Majority of Americans: Wealthy Not Taxed Enough

Poll also shows support for boosting tax on biggest contributor to inequality.

The wealthy aren't paying enough in federal taxes.

So said 68 percent of respondents to a new Associated Press-GfK poll (pdf). Sixty percent of respondents also said that the middle class is paying too much in federal taxes, and 41 percent held that belief about low-income households.

President Obama outlined last month a proposal to raise the capital gains tax on those with incomes over $500,000. A majority of poll respondents--56 percent--said they were in favor of such a proposal.

Obama's plan was to increase the capital gains tax rate to 28 percent--the rate they were set at under President Reagan-- which Dave Johnson of Campaign for America's Future described as "a huge step in the right direction."

Widespread support for the plan makes sense, as the majority of Americans see inequality as growing, and a previous study found capital gains to be the biggest contributor to income inequality.

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