Really. You Don't Need to Be So Generous!

President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, millionaires from his best-selling books, made $2.7 million last year and paid just under one-third of their adjusted income in federal taxes. While the income, mostly his, was far more than the U.S. median household income of about $50,000, it was quite a decrease from the $4.2 million the Obamas made in 2007.

Obama earned $139,204 as a Democratic senator from Illinois last year before leaving his seat after winning the November election. Michelle Obama received a salary of $62,709 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she was an executive.

The couple's total federal tax came to $855,323. That was 32 percent of their adjusted gross income of $2,656,902. The Obamas overpaid by $26,014, and elected to apply that amount to their 2009 taxes. The couple’s federal tax deductions included about $50,000 in home mortgage interest.

They reported contributing $172,050 to charity last year, including $25,000 each to the CARE international relief agency and the United Negro College Fund. They gave a total of $1,400 to five churches. In contrast to 2007, they gave nothing to the Trinity United Church of Christ.

The White House also released Vice President Joe Biden’s tax returns. Biden and his wife, Jill, earned $269,256 last year. The Bidens’ main sources of income were salaries from the Senate, Widener University, Delaware Technical & Community College and royalties from the audio rights to the vice president’s memoir, “Promises to Keep.” According to tax returns released by the vice president’s office, the Bidens paid $46,952 in federal income taxes and $11,164 in Delaware state income taxes. They donated $1,885 to charity.

So, let’s see. An adjusted gross income of $2.656 million. And, $1,400 given to five churches. An adjusted gross income of $269,256. And, donations to “charity” of $1,885.

I guess the Washington, D.C. churches will be lining up in hopes that the Obamas and Bidens will join their church! They are such strong believers in giving a biblical tithe.