Washington

A FUNNY thing happened when Congress approved a tax cut for the middle class eight years ago: Most Americans didn't notice.

The 2009 economic-stimulus bill contained a one-year tax break worth US$800 for married couples in 95 per cent of working households - a little over US$15 a week. A February 2010 poll found that just 12 per cent said their taxes had been reduced. Fifty-three per cent said they saw no change. A remarkable 24 per cent thought their taxes had increased.