WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is urging congressional Democrats to engage Republicans in a fight over taxes, pressing them to go on the offensive after the Supreme Court's health care decision gave prominence to the issue.

White House senior adviser David Plouffe is sending a memorandum to the House and Senate Democratic caucuses saying Republicans are misrepresenting Obama's record. In a memo obtained by the Associated Press, Plouffe said the White House welcomes a debate on taxes.

Obama has called for tax increases on households earning more than $250,000, but has also said existing tax cuts should be extended permanently for the middle class.

The court upheld the law, declaring that a penalizing people who can afford insurance but don't buy can be treated as a tax.