Jim Abrams, Associated Press reporter, lead paragraph of his story:

The House's top Democratic tax writer outlined a $1 trillion plan Thursday to eliminate the alternative minimum tax and ease the tax burdens of most people by asking the rich and some companies to pay more.

Asking? So, they don't have to pay it if they don't want to. It's a request, not a demand.

Some time ago my boss was juggling some people around and asked me if I wanted to switch desks. (Unlike my sister and brother-in-law, I absolutely hate moving. I don't like packing stuff up -- even if it's no more than 10 feet.) I demurred, saying I was fine where I was at, even though it was a smaller workspace. Then I learned that the "request" wasn't really a "request."

I've got a feeling this "asking the rich and some companies to pay more" is something similar.