Dems' Tax Plans Raise Fears of Rich Rebellion

Over the last few elections Democrats have captured House seats from the GOP in some of the wealthiest constituencies in the nation, from northern Virginia to suburban Denver. But as the White House and leaders in Congress look to tax hikes to fund the health care overhaul, recently elected congressmen are in open rebellion, the Wall Street Journal reports. Nervous Dems have voted against the party line and could pose a major obstacle to reform.

Democrats now represent 14 of the country's 25 richest districts; in 1995, they held just five of them. Those representatives have been cautious about bills on organized labor, banking regulation, and greenhouse gas credits. But it's higher taxes that rankle most, and House freshmen are getting nervous. One New York rep said he's met with Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi but may still vote against the health care bill: "People feel that they're getting hit from all sides," he said.
(More Democratic Party stories.)