Thank you for your analysis of the differences between President Obama's budget proposal and the Republicans' proposal ("What the sides are proposing," Dec. 5). To avoid allowing tax rates on the wealthiest 2 percent of taxpayers to return to what they were during the Clinton administration (when the economy boomed), Republicans would cut Social Security and increase the eligibility age for Medicare.
Note how often the word "unspecified" is used in the Republican proposal. What "tax breaks" would they eliminate? The only ones that could save $80 billion per year are the deductions for home mortgage interest, charitable contributions and employer-sponsored health insurance.
In contrast, President Obama's plan would preserve Social Security and Medicare, stimulate the economy by making needed improvements to our infrastructure, and maintain current tax rates for 98 percent of Americans (and 97 percent of small business owners like me).
Matt Flamm
Palatine
