The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) and Business for Shared Prosperity (BSP) released the following statement in response to the failure today by the U.S. Senate to secure the 60 votes needed to advance the Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012 (S. 2230). The bill would have legislated a “Buffett Rule” assuring that households with incomes above $1 million did not pay lower tax rates than middle-income taxpayers.

Senators who used the filibuster to block an up or down vote on the Paying a Fair Share Act ignored the 60 percent of American voters who support a Buffett Rule tax. Professing to care about small businesses, they have ignored the 58 percent of small business owners who believe that millionaires pay less than their fair share of taxes. These filibustering senators have sent a clear message to the American people: they’d rather slash vital services that families and Main Street businesses depend on than ask America’s most prosperous citizens to pay at least as much as middle-class workers and small business owners.

America needs to restore a tax system that funds our nation’s needs, strengthens our shared infrastructure for success, and reflects our values of fairness. Today, the U.S. Senate squandered the chance to take an important step in that direction. We urge senators who blocked the Buffett Rule to reconsider.

In a letter delivered to Senators last week, ASBC, BSP and seven other business organizations disputed claims that a Buffett Rule would negatively affect small businesses owners, the vast majority of whom are middle-class Americans with incomes under the rule’s $1 million threshold. Only 1 percent of the 34 million households reporting any business income on their tax returns earn more than $1 million annually, according to data from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

The letter also cited national, independent polling data showing that 58 percent of small business owners said households with incomes of more than $1 million a year pay less than their fair share in taxes. The scientific poll revealed that only one of the 500 small business owners surveyed reported an income above $1 million.

About The American Sustainable Business Council

The ASBC is a growing coalition of business networks representing over 100,000 companies and 200,000 business leaders. ASBC advocates for public policies that meet the realities of the 21st century global economy. www.asbcouncil.org

About Business for Shared Prosperity

The Business for Shared Prosperity is a network of forward thinking business owners, executives and investors. BSP has organized petitions for positive corporate tax reform and for ending top-rate tax cuts, and produced related reports. BSP is a member of the American Sustainable Business Council. www.businessforsharedprosperity.org

American Sustainable Business Council

American Sustainable Business Council

The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) is a national coalition of mission-driven businesses, social enterprises and sustainable business networks working to create a vibrant, just and sustainable economy. What unites us is a deep belief that we must move to a new economy that is grounded in principles of sustainability and equity.

The Council represents over 55,000 businesses and enterprises and more than 150,000 executives, owners, investors, entrepreneurs and business professionals. It is comprised of partners, which are organizations that represent businesses and social enterprises as well as entrepreneurs, executives, owners and investors committed to building a vibrant, just, and sustainable economy.

ASBC promotes policy change by educating and informing the business community, policy makers and the media about the business case for change, and by engaging the leaders of businesses and enterprises in building broad support for the policies America needs. We work on a range of policy areas, including: financial reform, health care, chemicals policy, climate change and business taxes.

We believe that the policies that will lead us to a sustainable and just economy are also good for business and good for America. Making the right commitments and investments will produce more and better jobs, build strength in key technologies, and make the U.S. more independent and secure.

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