I ran the numbers on the proposed changes, and I believe that most taxpayers in the affected income range will be paying AMT. These changes will therefore have no effect on them. Only taxpayers with very low deductions for state and local taxes (e.g., Texans living in cheap houses) will see any benefit from this narrow, high-income window. Furthermore, the benefit is relative to current law, which turns the tax clock back to 2001 in 2011. Relative to 2010 tax parameters, which is how people compare things in the real world, the 2011 proposals are still an increase.