Speaker of the House John Boehner is refusing to allow a vote to maintain tax cuts for those earning less than $250,000. But if 218 Congress members sign a discharge petition, they will force the vote. Then the "Bush tax cuts" can be allowed to expire with only the super-wealthy impacted.

But this will only be half a solution. Unless the outrageously bloated budget for war preparations is cut, a "grand bargain" between the two political parties will still cut needed spending, including on Medicare.