Lexington ABC affiliate WTVQ-TV reported yesterday that the failure of Congress to fix the alternative minimum tax (AMT) is preventing the government from publishing tax information for 2007.  As a result, tax filing season will start later, and it's likely that many (if not all) refunds will be delayed.

In Megan Skaggs' report, UK professor Tom Pope calls the inaction "political" and warns that if Congress doesn't fix the AMT, up to 25 million Americans could be subjected to this tax that was originally intended only for wealthy citizens who would otherwise pay little in taxes.

Most disheartening is that this situation could have been avoided months ago.  Senate Republicans have sponsored five suggested fixes for the AMT this session.  In three of those cases, just one member from the majority party voted for our proposals; in two, not a single member from across the aisle voted for this important tax relief.  I am hoping media attention like this will spur them into long-overdue action.

Watch WTVQ's report here.