The right tax patch  on December 13, 2007 at 10:30 PM, updated
December 13, 2007 at 10:42 PM  Year after year, Congress talks
about the need to permanently reform the alternative minimum tax
so it serves its original purpose of forcing the rich to pay
their fair share instead of also reaching down into middle-class
wallets. Year after year, Congress avoids reform in favor of a
temporary patch. This year, Congress can't even agree on a
patch. But lawmakers had better do so quickly because if AMT
legislation isn't passed by the new year, refunds for millions
could be delayed. And if the political battles go on beyond
that, some 25 million American households could end up paying an
average of $2,000 more in income tax.  The impact would be even
worse in New Jersey. Without an AMT change, about 530,000 Jersey
households with incomes of less than $100,000 could get hit with
$4,000 hikes in their federal taxes. When Congress tires of
rhetoric and takes action, it should follow the framework being
pushed by Democrat