100 days to election, Obama presses for tax cuts
US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney talks to his wife Ann as they attend the men’s 400-meter individual medley swimming event at the 2012 London Olympics on July 28, 2012 in London.
With 100 days until Americans choose their leader, President Barack Obama used his weekly address to press Congress on tax cuts while Mitt Romney shifted his foreign tour to Israel.
The president suggested Republican Congressmen hold the fate of average American families in their hands, and can make life easier for everyone by extending the Bush-era tax cuts.
“Republicans in Congress and their nominee for president believe that the best way to create prosperity in America is to let it trickle down from the top,” Obama said. “They believe that if our country spends trillions more on tax cuts for the wealthy, we’ll somehow create jobs – even if we have to pay for it by gutting things like education and training and by raising middle-class taxes.”
According to the president, Congress is holding “98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small business owners” captive by insisting tax cuts for those who earn more than $250,000 are extended.
He wants those cuts to expire and their taxes to increase.
The longer this continues, Obama said, the more likely Americans will see their taxes jump by $2,200 next year.
“We can’t afford more top-down economics,” the president said.
Meanwhile, Romney promised Israel unparalleled support and co-operation as his three-nation foreign tour continued.
More from GlobalPost: Mitt Romney to Israel: I’ll treat you better than Obama has
He is scheduled to meet with key Israel leaders on Sunday, and didn’t make any official statements today, CNN reported.
Romney and his wife, Ann, watched some Olympic swimming events before boarding a plane for Israel.
On Sunday, Romney is to speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and President Shimon Peres, The Guardian said.
Romney did, however, conduct and interview with a conservative Israeli newspaper ahead of his arrival there.
In the article published Friday, he promised even closer Israeli-US relations.
“I cannot imagine going to the United Nations, as Obama did, and criticizing Israel in front of the world,” Romney told Israel Hayom. “You don’t criticize your allies in public to achieve the applause of your foes.”
More from GlobalPost: Mr. Romney goes to Israel