Tax package heads towards high-stakes vote in House

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is pushing hard for the House to pass a tax package today that would save millions of Americans thousands of dollars in higher taxes beginning Jan. 1.

Some Democratic lawmakers are seeking changes to the package that could derail the bill, however.

Democratic leaders are staying hands-off, leaving it to President Barack Obama to persuade fellow Democrats not to put the package at risk by imposing a higher estate tax than he negotiated with Republicans.

"I think the president has been working it hard," Rep. Xaxier Becerra, D-Calif., a member of the House Democratic leadership team, said today.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed the package Wednesday, with broad bipartisan support. Obama is urging the House to pass it without changes, so he can sign it into law before a sweeping series of tax cuts expire at the end of December.

House Democratic leaders plan to pass the bill this evening. But first, they will have a vote on imposing the higher estate tax, backed by rebellious Democrats who say the package is too generous to the wealthy.