New website suggests rich give tax cuts to charity

Upset the federal government recently extended tax cuts for the rich, three professors at Yale and Cornell universities have created a website that encourages wealthy Americans to give their tax savings to charities and send a political message in the process.

The professors started giveitbackforjobs.org to allow Americans "who have the means" to calculate what their tax cut would be and donate that amount to a charity. They recommend groups such as Habitat for Humanity, Children's Aid Society and Salvation Army that they say promote fairness and a strong middle class.

The professors the contributions could replicate good government policy and, in effect, draft the government as a funding partner when the donation is tax deductible.