1. Set Focus
Ask this essential question: When it comes to taxes, is it fair to ask some Americans to pay more of what they earn than others?
2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:
- What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether the government should raise money by increasing the tax rate for the wealthiest Americans. The issue is timely because the president has asked Congress to pass a budget that calls for taxes to be raised on wealthy people.)
- Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Both authors are members of Congress. As lawmakers, they’re responsible for passing the federal budget and laws that determine the nation’s tax policy.)