[Xantar]

I should have been clearer. I got to the Comcast page, but the actual article itself links to some place called WalletPop. When I clicked the "full story" link I got a 404 error. However, I just checked and it appears to be working again, so maybe it was a server glitch.

Anyway, just to add a little history, the current AMT adjustments were instituted as part of the Bush Tax Cuts in 2001. Those tax cuts were implemented by budget reconciliation in the Senate, and the rule in the Senate is that anything passed by reconciliation must expire in 10 years. That's why the estate tax system is returning in 2011, and the AMT is returning back to its 2001 levels next year as well. I'm not going to defend it. It's bad (you could argue that the entire AMT system is bad in general, and I'm not sure I would disagree with you).

The good news is something like this is easily fixed. Keep an eye on Obama's budget proposal to Congress to see if he makes an adjustment to the AMT. I'll be shocked if it's not included. Adjusting the AMT is one of those things Democrats and Republicans easily agree on.