Obama Defends Tax Plan

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is defending a budget
idea that would reduce the tax deduction that wealthier families
can take when they make charitable donations.
Obama says the plan is "the right thing to do."
Speaking at a prime-time news conference, the president said the
change in tax policy would be realistic and fairer to lower-earning
families that make charitable gifts but get a smaller tax
deduction. Some lawmakers don't like the idea. They say it could
hurt donations to needy groups in a time of need.
Obama says the provision would affect only about 1 percent of
the American people, and they would still get a tax deduction, just
not as big as they used to get.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)