Arkansas congressman Rick Crawford is proposing a surtax on millionaires that would be tied to passage of a balanced budget amendment.
The proposal is a major shift for the freshman Republican who was elected on an anti-tax platform.
Crawford on Thursday proposed legislation that would require passage of a federal balanced budget amendment in exchange for a 5 percent surtax on individual incomes exceeding $1 million a year.
Small businesses that file taxes as individuals would not be required to pay the surtax under Crawford's plan.
Crawford said the proposal is a way for both Democrats and Republicans to work together on ways to cut the nation’s deficit.
Democrats think Crawford is vulnerable as he runs for re-election to his east Arkansas seat.
Three Democrats are running for the party’s nomination to challenge Crawford.