Buffett: I Should Pay More Taxes

Says he'll match them, and 'even go 3 for 1 for McConnell'

(NEWSER) - 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." More»

He continues crusade for higher taxes

(NEWSER) - Warren Buffett continued his plea that the rich be taxed more—but he went a bit further today than he did last week . “There's no sacrifice among the rich,” he told ABC’s This Week, according to Politico . “There's plenty of sacrifice going on now. I mean, if you look at Iraq and now Afghanistan, there's been sacrifice. But I would doubt if you take the people on the Forbes 400 list—whether many of them have a child or a grandchild that served in Iraq or Afghanistan—they come home in body bags to Nebraska, but they don't have to call up anybody up at the country club to notify them.” Click here for more on last week’s comments. More»

The rich aren't going to pay up just to be nice

(NEWSER) - Stephen King is following Warren Buffett's lead with an op-ed begging to be taxed more—though King drops in a few more F-bombs in his very salty appeal. In "Tax Me, for F***'s Sake," the wealthy author offers his views on his fellow one-percenters: "The majority would rather douse their d**ks with lighter fluid, strike a match, and dance around singing 'Disco Inferno' than pay one more cent in taxes to Uncle Sugar." So before Chris Christie again says to shut up and cut a check , don't expect anybody to voluntarily open their wallets, King writes at the Daily Beast : It's time to make them pay up. More»

You may be able to deduct college courses, disaster losses

(NEWSER) - If you've put off your taxes until the last minute, here's a little reward for your procrastination: Time offers seven tax breaks that could save you money—now that you actually know about them:

• Higher education: There are certain credits available for qualified tuition, and you may not even need to be in a degree program to be eligible for them. Deductions are also available for college-related expenses like loan interest and room and board.
• Taking care of a sick parent: Though it may not be simple, it could be worth it to look into getting your parent declared as a dependent if you provide half or more of his or her financial support—even if the parent doesn't actually live with you.

President gives speech flanked by millionaires and their secretaries

(NEWSER) - So much for the Romney Rule . President Obama has settled on another way to rebrand the Buffett Rule, which would impose a 30% minimum tax on income above $1 million, Roll Call reports. "I’m not the first president to call for this idea that everybody’s got to do their fair share," he said in a speech in Washington today, surrounded by millionaires and their secretaries. "That wild-eyed, socialist, tax-hiking class warrior was Ronald Reagan." More»