The Democrats' Populist Push

Populism is making a comeback on Capitol Hill this week.

House Democrats are revving up the message machine to beat back Republican critics of their measure to postpone the alternative minimum tax this year for middle-income families caught in its crosshairs.

“This is a simple issue where Democrats are standing up for middle-class tax relief and fiscal responsibility while Republicans are fighting for privileged Americans who aren’t paying their fair share in taxes and are willing to pile more debt on future generations,” House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said. “To their surprise, Republicans are going to get caught on the wrong side of this issue.”

Congressional Republican pounced all over legislation Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) unveiled last month to permanently neuter the AMT, creating something of a negative political environment for Democrats to move a one-year $50 billion fix – despite a much easier-to-swallow price tag than its almost $1 trillion sibling.

So the party in power plans to strike back this week, painting their GOP counterparts as the eager lapdogs of “Wall Street millionaires who are not paying their fair share of taxes,” according to a set of talking points drafted by Hoyer aides.

The House is expected to vote on the legislation later this week.