If Congress fails to act, taxes will go up for working Americans. What would paying $2,000 more in taxes mean to families across the country? Here are just a few responses:

"My wife and I have twin boys. We are thrilled to be adding a new baby to our family in April! However, I'm a teacher and she is a professional musician. We love what we do, but with our current salaries, we couldn't possibly afford the costs that will come with the birth if we lost $2,000. My income went down slightly because my district dropped dental insurance, so we now pay it on our own. We love what we do, love helping educate kids and provide for the community but as you can see, couldn't withstand a $2,000 tax hike; not with a baby on the way."
—Kevin, Texas

"It could mean Christmas presents for my three kids and my extended family. Or it could mean a year of after school activities—dance lessons and piano lessons and art lessons. Or it could mean paying for our life insurance policies, which make sure that our kids are taken care of if anything happens to us. It's a lot."
—Abigail, New York

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ADD YOUR VOICE

Students and their families share why Congress needs to act now to keep taxes low for middle-class Americans:

"I am a former foster youth who emancipated from foster care two years ago. Now, I am a college student at San Francisco State University and working while I am in college. What does $2,000 mean to me? I could use it to pay for my tuition, books, and college expenses while I don't have any family to pay for my education. It could be an investment for me in the future. It could help me get a degree and earn a college education. This can help my future endeavor to have a better job and pay more taxes to create more jobs for Americans to sustain our economy and growth."
—Colin, California

"It means paying down my student loans and the small amount of debt from being a student health care worker."
—David, Missouri

What does $2,000 mean to you?

Supporters across the country are joining President Obama in urging Congress to keep taxes low for middle-class families. Here's what $2,000 a year would mean to just a few of the folks who have shared their stories.

"I delivered my first child in September and I am a full-time college student. Diapers, formula, books, tuition, and contributing toward my family's future potential is what $2,000 will help accomplish!"
—Farrah, Alabama

"I'm working on getting a Masters degree so I can compete in this job market. Increasing my tax burden would make it a lot tougher to purchase my own health insurance when I turn 26 (this June), work on repaying my various debts, and save money for my distant wedding. I don't mind paying my fair share to get our country back on its feet, it's just difficult to do when we're still not on our own feet."
—K, Maryland

"As someone with several medical conditions requiring prescription drugs, I spend nearly $150 a month on copays alone. Each month, I struggle to meet these expenses; raising my taxes would make this even more difficult."
—S, Minnesota

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