In 2011 and 2012, President Obama decreased the payroll tax rate:

1. While the benefits of the payroll tax cuts were about the same across income groups, the middle class received a smaller share in comparison to the Bush income tax cuts.

2. Since the wealthy are exempt from the payroll tax, they received no benefit from the tax cut.

3. Almost ¾ of the tax cuts were realized by the top 10% of income earners.

4. The benefits of the tax cut were about the same for the middle class as they were for the wealthy (top 20%).