John Legend rejected tax cuts for the wealthy at a Motown tribute concert at the White House.
Speaking during a performance with Motown artists Steve Wonder and Smokey Robinson, along with Seal, Legend criticized last December’s deal to extend the Bush-era tax rates. “People fought to give me—a millionaire—a tax cut this year,” he said, according to the
The Grammy-winning performer described how he had benefited from government-subsidized community choirs and arts councils over the years, many of which are likely to end up on the budget chopping block. “I hope our politicians will not think that they are expendable, and they can just get rid of them, and nobody will feel the pain because I think society will feel the pain,” he said. “I’m really frustrated with some of the discourse that’s coming out of Washington.”
Some other prominent wealthy people, such as multibillionaire Warren Buffett, have also said they would support the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts for upper-income taxpayers (see
