Why is CNBC saying that the amount paid in taxes by the wealthy is higher than before the recession?

[Obama hood - Spread the Wealth]

The One Percent paid an average effective tax rate of 28.9 percent on their income — far more than any other group, and more than twice the average effective rate of the middle class, who paid 11 percent on average.

So the rich lost more income and paid more of their money in taxes than the rest of the population.

This is not an argument against taxing the wealthy. And the incomes and tax rates of the wealthy may have jumped back since 2009, with the rebound in financial markets.

But when politicians and pundits talk about the rich just getting richer and paying less taxes, they need to pay closer attention to the actual numbers.

-By CNBC's Robert Frank
Follow Robert Frank on Twitter: @robtfrank
Brian B - You are wrong:

In 2007, the top one percent earned 16.7 percent of all after-tax income. In 2009, that portion fell to 11.5 percent.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/48257611

[ingsoc1]

Well since the top one percent have not lost as much income as the rest of us he has no point.

The one percent are doing fine the rest of us not so much

[Brian B]

The 1 percent take in 50% of the wealth and pay 29% percent of the bill... somehow that doesn't lead me to believe they have it too hard.

["Dog Eater"]

The unemployment numbers are responsible for that.

[Ryuto]

The bush tax cuts shifted more of a tax burden on the wealthy because they also implemented generous tax credits which resulted in the bottom 20% percent paying a NEGATIVE PERCENTAGE of taxes their tax rate is very low on the little income they earn, they qualify for these generous credits and up with a refund worth MORE than they originally paid in taxes! So who picks up the slack? You guessed it the top 20%!!!!!

[The Beat]

Robert Frank also just did a report on how the wealthy grew their income by two percent after the recession, while the so-called "middle class" lost more than a third of their income.

He seems to be contradicting himself...
Hmmm...

"In 2007, the top one percent earned 16.7 percent of all after-tax income."

Wealth and income are two seperate things, my friend.

[Chevy P]

The wealthy have almost all the money.

[Mike]

The fear of higher tax rates in the future causes them to rearrange their investments and other earnings. This will cause a short term increase in tax revenue and a long term loss as they hold investments indefinitely. The rich can control when they have income.

[Bad Wolf]

Brian -

You have those stats backwards.