GOP senators vow to block tax increase

September 14, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama claims it’s still a “wrestling match,” but with Senate Republicans in uniform opposition, his plan to raise taxes on wealthier people while preserving cuts for everyone else appears increasingly likely to founder before Election Day.

Both Republicans and Democrats are using the looming expiration of Bush-era tax cuts as a defining battle in elections to determine control of Congress that are just seven weeks away.

Gridlock appears to be an increasingly likely result in the Senate. Republicans said they had the votes to block legislation to extend the middle-class tax relief if Democrats follow through on their plan to deny tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. The issue is more likely to be decided in a post-election session.

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the GOP whip, said Monday that his party was united in opposing Obama’s proposed tax hike on the wealthy.

Congressional analysts say renewing the tax cuts for everyone would cost the government $4 trillion over the next decade. With polls showing a broad public anger over spiraling federal deficits, Obama wants to exclude individuals earning more than $200,000 and couples making more than $250,000 .