Article: Tax rich for health care, Demos say

WASHINGTON -- Key House Democrats decided Friday to raise taxes on the wealthy to help pay for health care legislation, capping an up-and-down week for President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

At the same time, Democratic leaders tried to quell concerns among moderate and conservative lawmakers about other elements of the bill.

"We're closer to that significant reform than at any time in recent history. That doesn't make it easy. It's hard," Obama said while traveling overseas.

Democrats on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee agreed to a new surtax that would start with households making $350,000 a year and begin in 2011, said the committee's chairman, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

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