Asked about Mitt Romney’s complaints about how 47 percent of Americans pay no income tax, at a Virginia Senate Debate Thursday, former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) unexpectedly said in a Senate debate that he was “open” to a proposal to require a minimum income tax from those who do not currently pay any.
Democrats have all but universally opposed efforts to raises taxes on that group, since it would require reversing tax credits and benefits that affect the working poor, senior citizens, households with children, and soldiers deployed in combat zones, among other groups.
Kaine also suggested raising taxes on those making more than $500,000 in income in order to help reduce the deficit and attacked Mitt Romney’s infamous “47 percent” quote, accusing the GOP presidential nominee of dividing the country.
UPDATE: here’s the full quote from Kaine as posted by Dave Weigel:
“I would be open to a proposal that would have some minimum tax level for everyone, but I do insist, many of the 47 percent that Gov. Romney was going after pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than he does.”
