How about tax-DEDUCTIBLE health insurance?

[LiberalEsto]

Instead of taxing health insurance coverage and mandating that everyone get insurance or face big finds, it behooves Congress to take a look at the economic devastation created by the Bush Depression and do something to bail out average citizens.

At some point in the past 30 years, people were allowed to deduct health care costs if they exceeded 3 percent of their income. Then the level was raised to 6 percent, making it far harder to meet the target for deduction. I'm not a tax expert. so I'm not sure if it's still 6 percent, or if it's been raised higher, or eliminated altogether.

I can't see why we can't return to deducting health care costs if they exceed 3 percent. It's not like this is something new -- American has done this before. Or, for that matter, allowing us to include the cost of health insurance in the 3 percent or 6 percent or whatever.

The government could always revert to taxing corporations at the high levels of the 1950s to make up for any lost revenue.

Oops, I forgot. The government is run by the corporations nowadays. I don't seriously imagine they would increase their own taxes.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Health insurance premiums are deductible if they are not paid for pre-tax. You may include the

premiums for hospital, surgical, and dental care and prescription drug polices as well. Some long-term care polices can also be included.

The current deduction must exceed 7 1/2% of your adjusted gross income.

See IRS publication 502

[midnight]

2. k&R