Does the president have to power to raise income and capital gains taxes?

Question

I've been reviewing in detail Obama's tax plans and now I'm in a bit of a panic. He can't really do that can he? Doesn't he need the support of congress and to get things passed? I'd be forced to live in my current house forever (~shiver~)!

Answer 1

No, the president can't.  He can suggest, or have a bill sent to Congress by proxy (a representative or senator), but he can't actually do anything about taxes except sign legislation.

Having said that, however, if Obama becomes president and the democrats still control congress, they'll basically rubberstamp whatever he wants.

Answer 2

He needs the support of the Congress.  All he can do is propose such legislation - he can't change the tax laws by hmself.

Answer 3

The President can not even sponsor legislation. He can propose a piece of legislation to his party members who are seated in Congress but unless one of them agrees to sponsor that bill nothing happens.

Answer 4

Yes he will need the support of Congress but with a Democrat Congress and a Democrat President  he will have no trouble getting them passed.

Answer 5

Not without the approval of Congress.  All he could do is sign off on it should Congress agrees to it and that's ONLY if he were elected.  Even with a democratic majority in Congress he'd have a lot of problem getting it passed because they haver to have a majority vote in Congress and the democrats are full of sh*t in Congress, you can tell by the last two years.  Obama thinks he can walk on water.  He's a legend in his own mind.

McCain IS our new president.

Answer 6

no, he can only propose legislation and then Congress passes the legislation

it's why I get frustrated when I hear the phrase "Bush tax cuts"

congress passed the tax cuts, not Bush

Answer 7

No.  All money bills are handled by congress.  All.

Answer 8

All issues with the budget was left in the hands of the House of Representatives.  All money legislation begins with them and is approved by them.  The other branches can advise and suggest but cannot pass a budget on their own.  To get things his way the president would have to veto the entire budget proposal and make sure that congress cannot override it and find a new kind of compromise with them.

Answer 9

Yes, that's the thing a lot of people don't realize is that the president has to have Congress' approval on pretty much everything.  That's where checks and balances comes into play.

Answer 10

the answers you've gotten so far are correct. he can not by himself raise taxes. he can propose such legislation and if it doesn't pass in the form he wants, he then has the power to veto it. if we get a democratic cong. and a democratic president we are in major trouble. that's been the reason i think that you don't see that occur very often. we need the checks and balance system where one party doesn't control everything. that being said, there is too much partisanship going on in wash. d.c. and nothing gets done to help the public.