AP sources: Health tax on high-earners may be out

[Demeter]

Source: AP

Democratic officials say House and Senate negotiators working with the White House on a health care bill appear likely to drop a proposed income tax increase on high-wage earners. They also may jettison a requirement for large corporations to offer coverage to their employees.

These officials also said that key lawmakers and the White House were hoping to include more money to protect state governments from the cost of an expansion of Medicaid.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.

The developments came as the pace of negotiations on health care legislation quickened. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were scheduled to meet with Obama at the White House Wednesday.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

---

The Outrage Continues

[Jackpine Radical]

1. This just in: New Affordable Health Insurance Plans will not require insurers

to pay for actual health care of insured.

[Demeter]

2. Yes, But That Goes Without Saying

It was, is, and always will be, part of the Plan!

[Jackpine Radical]

14. Well, shit.

I thought I'd say it anyway.

[Demeter]

16. Go Right Ahead!

It's a Free Country--um--Freedom of Expression--um--I think I'll shut up now.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Drop the tax the rich portion of House, but keep tax the workers on their benefits

Who wrote this damned bill, Mitch McConnell?

[Demeter]

5. Ask Who Supports It

Start with Clueless Obama, and work your way down. You won't get past the House of Reps and the Insurance Industry, though, and then run out of supporters...

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. They find it more equitable to tax

the unemployed who use fully taxable dollars to pay health insurance premiums if they are able to do so.

I'm pretty damned unimpressed with the pieces of sh*t INSURANCE reform that our President and COngress would like to pretend constitutes healthcare reform. They could - and should - have done better. Meaningful healthcare reform is my line in the sand. I suspect there may be a lot of incumbents who will be seeking re-election that I will not vote for. Fuck 'em.

[Iowa]

6. One outrage after another. It never ends.

[earth mom]

24. I often sign onto DU wondering what the Outrage du jour will be.

Wasn't all this outrage supposed to end when * left?!

:grr:

:puke:

[Iowa]

25. Unfortunately, shrub was replaced with a guy who has a similar ideology.

So in a sense, he never really left.

[Juche]

7. Employer mandates are out, individual mandates are still in

yay.

[shopgreen]

8. AP sources: Employer health mandate may be dropped

Source: AP






AP sources: Employer health mandate may be dropped

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer – 18 mins ago

WASHINGTON – House and Senate negotiators working on President Barack Obama's health overhaul bill appear likely to drop a proposed income tax increase on high-wage earners and possibly jettison a requirement for large businesses to offer coverage to their employees, Democratic officials said Tuesday.

Negotiators are considering extending the Medicare payroll tax, which now applies only to income from wages, to cover some of the investment earnings of couples making more than $250,000 a year, and individuals earning above $200,000. That could make up lost revenue from dropping the high-wage income tax and scaling back a proposed tax on high-value insurance plans, which is strongly opposed by organized labor and House Democrats.....................

On another high-profile issue, the negotiators are discussing a hybrid of a proposed national insurance exchange contained in the House bill and the state-by-state approach favored by the Senate. House Democrats are pressing for a national system to apply pressure to the insurance industry after their proposal for a new government-run insurance option was ruled out due to opposition from Senate moderates.

These officials also said key lawmakers and the White House were hoping to include more money to protect state governments from the cost of an expansion of the federal-state Medicaid insurance program for the poor. That issue flared after Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., the critical 60th vote for the health care bill in the Senate, got a deal for the federal government to pay the full cost of Medicaid expansion in his state forever, whereas other states would have to pick up part of the tab after a few years........................

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

[abelenkpe]

9. what would that mean

for families that get their health insurance through work?

[Goldom]

10. Nothing, I don't think.

Sounds like it just means businesses wouldn't be required to. Not that existing coverage would go away - unless your company chose to.

[No Elephants]

21. More evidence that we need a powerful, well funded lobby. Pregressive Democrats of America?

Any other suggestions?

[jaybeat]

11. Not all bad news, actually...

Negotiators are considering extending the Medicare payroll tax, which now applies only to income from wages, to cover some of the investment earnings of couples making more than $250,000 a year, and individuals earning above $200,000.

Taxing income other than wages is key to helping ease the burden on people who actually work for a living.

Officials said Obama has indicated support for a national version of the exchange — a clearinghouse where consumers could shop for health coverage. He also is signaling support for ending the decades-old antitrust exemption enjoyed by insurance companies. On those two issues the president is siding with House Democrats over their Senate counterparts.

Ending the exemption gives the executive enormous leverage to cut the power of the insurance companies w/out having to go through the bought-and-sold congresscritters.

House Democrats are pushing for more generous subsidies to help low- and middle-income people buy coverage, and Obama supports that.

:shrug:

[No Elephants]

22. Wouldn't it make more sense just to raise the income tax on high wage earners?

That would tax income from investments and all other sources and raise a lot more money. Plus, it would not further complicate tax prep and people would not be able to yell forevermore about their hcr taxes.

[tavalon]

12. So when does it become okay to say NO to this bill?

Is there anything worthwhile left in it, I mean, besides a great photo op for our President?

[Demeter]

13. You Have MY Permission

I've been saying NO since the first draft, actually.

[PSPS]

15. Obama has to go. He's worse than useless. He's actively working against the people.

[senseandsensibility]

17. The apologists will hit this thread soon

But of course, it will take them some time to come up with their twisted, illogical "reasoning." In the meantime, it is refreshing to read the above comments.

[depakid]

18. Popular- reasonable and effective- so of course it's out!

replaced by an irresponsible fiscal policy that's designed to degrade health coverage and further alienate key constituencies.

Democrats continue to impress.

[New Dawn]

19. They just want to force the fascist Mandate on us.

Forcing people to buy a product or service from private companies is fascist economics.

[kpete]

20. AP sources: Employer health mandate may be dropped

Source: Associated Press

AP sources: Employer health mandate may be dropped
AP


WASHINGTON – House and Senate negotiators working on President Barack Obama's health overhaul bill appear likely to drop a proposed income tax increase on high-wage earners and possibly jettison a requirement for large businesses to offer coverage to their employees, Democratic officials said Tuesday.

Negotiators are considering extending the Medicare payroll tax, which now applies only to income from wages, to cover some of the investment earnings of couples making more than $250,000 a year, and individuals earning above $200,000. That could make up lost revenue from dropping the high-wage income tax and scaling back a proposed tax on high-value insurance plans, which is strongly opposed by organized labor and House Democrats.

On another high-profile issue, the negotiators are discussing a hybrid of a proposed national insurance exchange contained in the House bill and the state-by-state approach favored by the Senate. House Democrats are pressing for a national system to apply pressure to the insurance industry after their proposal for a new government-run insurance option was ruled out due to opposition from Senate moderates.

These officials also said key lawmakers and the White House were hoping to include more money to protect state governments from the cost of an expansion of the federal-state Medicaid insurance program for the poor. That issue flared after Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., the critical 60th vote for the health care bill in the Senate, got a deal for the federal government to pay the full cost of Medicaid expansion in his state forever, whereas other states would have to pick up part of the tab after a few years.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul;_ylt=AqRBl2aFvJtz_GvGwe0f17es0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNycnNlamlwBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMTEzL3VzX2hlYWx0aF9jYXJlX292ZXJoYXVsBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNQRwb3MDMgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QE

[fascisthunter]

23. sick... yeah, they care about Americans... my ass they do