Bush's "health care reform" would raise my taxable income 50%

[jsamuel]

His plan is to start taxing employees for health care. Employers would then have to pay that in payroll taxes as well. Then the people who get their health care outside of their jobs would get a tax break.

However, the problem here is quite obvious. What if someone makes very little money but gets good health benefits? That's me, and probably a lot of state employees.

Based on what I heard on NPR, I think that the employee would be responsible for paying taxes on all health care, including what the employer pays for them. This would increase my taxable income 50% for the whole year.

This can't be a "solution".

UPDATE:
"above 7500 a year for a single person and 15k a year for a family" - dsc

That would change it quite a bit. In fact, if that is right, then I wouldn't get taxed at all. Then my outrage may be unfounded. But what else could this mean?

[WI_DEM]

1. but...but I thought he didn't believe in raising taxes!!

hopefully a democratic congress would stop this "solution" in its tracks.

[AndyA]

2. So George Bush is trying to raise taxes, right?

On the average working American. Democratic leaders need to be screaming about Bush raising taxes on those who can least afford it.

Bush is a crazy man. Somebody PLEASE get him out of office before he hurts or kills anyone else! Enough already!!

[McCamy Taylor]

3. Issue an all points bulletin! W. raising taxes! Rove owes all of us $5.

[whistle]

4. It is the republican solution to make it totally infeasible for companies

...to offer health care insurance though. Bush would apply the same concept to kill social security and medicare, make the employer provided portion taxable to the employee. Pretty slick, eh?

[rodeodance]

12. its the better (more coverage, etc) that seems to be getting hit. Bush

wants health ins. not to cost too much and people (?employers) will be penalized if the cost is too much???????

i am having a rough time figuring this out.

[jsamuel]

15. the company would get taxed too, so it would make it harder for companies to give health care

or, better health care

[Deja Q]

5. career politicians use smooth words to lure the less fortunate.

Even repubs of any persuasion have to see through this obvious blunder on Bush's part. It is raising taxes.

Also, did a fast food worker become reclassified as a 'manufacturer'? That way we can all feel assured that manufacturing jobs aren't bleeding out of this country... :crazy:

[LSparkle]

6. I was appalled to hear about this too

and am praying the Democratic Congress doesn't allow this "solution" to see the light of day. My raises over the past few years have been paltry, and most of that has gone to cover increased health care costs. If I now have to start paying tax on these "benefits," then I'll effectively have been given a NEGATIVE raise.

WTF is up with this guy? I can't believe his economic "advisors" would allow this proposal to even get passing notice.

[originalpckelly]

7. A Republican, raising taxes, and on healthcare?

This is not going to go over well with their base. (I hope.)

[roamer65]

8. Read my lips...

...like father, like son.

[hedgehog]

9. Who would have to pay higher taxes?

The guy with a cheap plan that has great benefits or the guy with the expensive plan with lousy benefits? What if you had health insurance and never made a claim?

[Fovea]

10. I am looking forward to watching Joe Lieberman

fellate this plan in public!

[dsc]

11. above 7500 a year for a single person and 15k a year for a family

I don't think I would be taxed but if I end up taxed it will only be a little.

[rodeodance]

13. k

[Warpy]

14. Sock it to the suckers who can least afford it!

It's the Republic way!

Watch the states and corporations dump health care as fast as they can. They're already passing along increased premium costs in the form of big deductions on paychecks and hefty copays for services. A defacto increase in cost equal to the payroll tax will cause them to push the burden completely onto the workers, just to get out from under. 50% of your income will then go to pay the insurance company. Well, you didn't think you'd get a RAISE did you? You'll get a break on your taxes, big woop, that might cover a month's premium.

This is how rich men think. They can't conceive of anyone living on $30,000 a year (or less) without a portfolio to dip into or a trust fund to supplement the income. Because a tax break on their yearly tab will pay for ten gold plated insurance plans, they think tax breaks are the way to go for all of us.

A reasonable single payer plan that would expand Medicare is SOCIALISM!

[TerdlowSmedley]

16. This will also go after another favorite target of the right-wingers, union members.

It's bad enough that fewer and fewer American workers can expect comprehensive health care benefits and retirement pensions from their jobs, now they're going to be taxed as income. Of course, this will benefit those who are self-employed and wealthy enough to pay for their own health insurance. A tax break will not help an uninsured family who are uninsured because they can't afford the insurance. I HOPE this is transparent enough for all to see through and that there aren't still too many knuckleheads who still buy into this charlatan's "ownership society", "giving people a choice" , "free-market" bullshit. It's a sop to those who already have and a knife in the gut of the average working person.