Boehner concedes only three percent of small businesses affected by extending tax cuts

As you know, John Boehner made big news yesterday on CBS when he seemed to allow that he would support it if Dems held a vote on whether to extend just the tax cuts of those who make less than $250,000.

And that's certainly interesting. But there's another key claim Boehner made that also deserves some attention: He seemed to allow that the income of only three percent of small business people would be impacted if the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire.

I hear Dems are getting ready to jump on this part of Boehner's interview. They're going to argue that it undercuts the claim of many Republicans that extending the tax cuts for the rich would have an adverse impact on many small businesses, creating widespread uncertainty for them.

In the exchange, Bob Schieffer of CBS asked Boehner to respond to a recent report by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation finding the three percent figure. And then...

BOB SCHIEFFER: Do you quarrel with that figure? Is that a right figure or a wrong figure? BOEHNER: Well, it may be three percent, but it's half of small business income. Because, obviously, the top three percent have half of the gross income for those companies that we would term small businesses. And this is why you don't want to punish these people at a time when you have a weak economy.

Boehner's camp will argue that this isn't a concession at all. After all, he reiterated the claim that half of small business income will be impacted, creating a drag on investment and innovation in a weak economy.

But Dems will counter that this only proves their point -- most of the small business income that would be impacted by ending the tax cuts for the rich is concentrated in the hands of a tiny group of people. Look for this to become part of the Dem argument -- and part of the ongoing White House and Dem offensive against Boehner -- as the skirmish over the tax cuts heats up.

UPDATE, 11:16 a.m.: Boehner spokesman Michael Steel responds without directly addressing the three percent figure:

"There is no argument that the President's plan would raise taxes on half of the small business income in the United States, according to the non-partisan Joint Tax Committee. Why do Washington Democrats want to raise taxes on anyone -- especially small businesses -- in a struggling economy? If Speaker Pelosi allows a fair debate and vote in the House, we're confident that our plan to stop all of the tax hikes would prevail."

UPDATE, 11:24 a.m.: DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan unloads: