Buffett Dares GOP to Donate More Taxes

Warren Buffett's ready to donate money to pay down the national debt—provided Republicans lawmakers do so first. When Buffett called for higher taxes on the rich last year, Mitch McConnell and many other Republicans told him to "send in a check," and John Thune even introduced the "Buffett Rule Act," adding a tax form option to donate. Now, Buffett tells Time that if any Republican members of Congress donate, he'll match them 1-for-1. "I'll even go 3 for 1 for McConnell."

"It's kind of touching this faith [McConnell] has in the American public," to believe voluntary contributions could close the deficit, Buffett added. "That is a tax policy only a Republican can come up with." Of course, Buffett doesn't actually think McConnell, who is worth at least $10 million, will cough up anything—and indeed, McConnell's office released a statement implying as much, saying Buffett should match contributions "from those who actually want to pay higher taxes, including Congressional Democrats, the President, and the DNC." (More Warren Buffett stories.)