Bachmann: Massive tax increase for carpet layers, maybe a plumber & his brother, if Bush Cuts expire

Republican firebrand Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) said Tuesday morning that she would be willing to broker a compromise on the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts, but only if it is not attached to a bill that would require more spending -- including one that would extend unemployment benefits.

"I would like to get the current tax policy extended as far into the future as we possibly can. If we can only get it extended for two years I think that is great but I don't think that the American people should have to pay for that by having to have some new massive spending tied to it," Bachmann told ABC's "Good Morning America," referring to a new unemployment benefits package that has been drawn up to replace one set to expire at the end of the month. "If that's the case I don't think you are going to see the Republicans go along with it."

When asked why she appeared to be willing to aggressively lobby for the fiscal benefit of the richest Americans, while simultaneously wanting to ensure that the unemployed received no further assistance in turn, Bachmann claimed that the actual wealth of Americans in the top tax bracket is often misconstrued.

"These are people who are carpet layers who maybe employee two or three other guys. Or a plumber maybe himself and his brother and it's $250,000 in gross sales for the business. They're the ones that are looking at massive tax increases," she told GMA.

WATCH: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/16/bachmann-bush-tax-cuts-unemployment_n_784112.html

Prior to serving in the U.S. Congress, Bachmann served in the Minnesota State Senate. She was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 2000 where she championed the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. And, prior to that, Bachmann spent five years as a federal tax litigation attorney, working on hundreds of civil and criminal cases. That experience solidified Bachmann’s strong support for efforts to simplify the Tax Code and reduce tax burdens on family and small business budgets.