re: Even pelosi knows that a surtax is a really bad political move.
Much better to just raise the base rate of taxation.
But pelosi knows she couldn't muster enough political clout to even get away with raising the base rate.
Surtaxes are an ugly beast. Look at the AMT. Look at that Spanish American War surtax that you still pay on your telephone bill.
Pelosi may be a Liberal, but her handlers won't let be completely stupid.