Conrad opposes the expiration of the Bush tax cuts

Some lawmakers are requesting
the meeting before the August recess as a way to boost consumer
confidence. 

Republicans are calling for
the extension of the tax cuts for all income levels, while some Democrats are
suggesting that the cuts for those making $250,000 a year or more should be
allowed to expire as middle-class tax cuts are held in place. 

While Democrats have mixed
feelings about raising taxes as the economy recovers from a protracted
recession, others are convinced at least some of those cuts should be allowed
to expire. 

House Ways and Means Chairman
Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) told The Hill on Wednesday that he is firmly against
extending the tax cuts benefiting the wealthy. 

“My own view is that the
high-income brackets should be allowed to expire,” he said. “I just think that
the evidence is that the very wealthy have done, by and large, very well while
the middle-income taxpayers have not.”

—Jay Heflin contributed to this story.