It's a semantical game that's been bantered back and forth by DC politicians for at least my entire voting lifetime (1978 forward)
IMHO, it's bullshit to say that failing to extend tax cuts with a finite life span is a deliberate "tax increase".
Had the US Congress intended for the designated cuts to be permanent, they would have defined them so.
===
More important is that of course Obama cannot either "raise" or "lower" income tax levels. That power is only held by the United States Congress. If income tax levels for your income level are honestly a strong concern for you, I'd suggest directing your focus to those people running for Congress in the three seats which represent you.
Since you're currently voting in Florida, that would be the two seats currently held by Nelson & Martinez plus whichever person represents you in the US House.
IMHO, it's bullshit to say that failing to extend tax cuts with a finite life span is a deliberate "tax increase".
Had the US Congress intended for the designated cuts to be permanent, they would have defined them so.
===
More important is that of course Obama cannot either "raise" or "lower" income tax levels. That power is only held by the United States Congress. If income tax levels for your income level are honestly a strong concern for you, I'd suggest directing your focus to those people running for Congress in the three seats which represent you.
Since you're currently voting in Florida, that would be the two seats currently held by Nelson & Martinez plus whichever person represents you in the US House.