Paraphrasing Anatole France:
Congress and the Administration forbid the rich and poor disparate health care plans!
Unions’ Health Benefits May Avoid Tax Under Proposal (Update1)
June 26 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. Senate proposal to impose taxes for the first time on “gold-plated” health plans may bypass generous employee benefits negotiated by unions.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, the chief congressional advocate of taxing some employer-provided benefits to help pay for an overhaul of the U.S. health system, says any change should exempt perks secured in existing collective- bargaining agreements, which can be in place for as long as five years.
The exception, which could make the proposal more politically palatable to Democrats from heavily unionized states such as Michigan, is adding controversy to an already contentious debate. It would shield the 12.4 percent of American workers who belong to unions from being taxed while exposing some other middle-income workers to the levy. [snip]
Sandra Carter, a retired Pacific Bell Telephone Co. technician from Stockton, California, said her health benefits, worth about $12,000 per year, were negotiated by the Communications Workers of America. She is unmarried with no children, meaning her individual coverage exceeds benefits paid to federal workers by about $7,800. If that amount were taxed at the 15 percent marginal rate, she would owe $1,170.
“I can’t afford the taxes I pay now,” said Carter, who said she suffers from diabetes. “Why should I get taxed on a benefit that keeps me a functioning person?” [snip]
More news about this delight, on page 114 of the soon to be named “Glorious Kennedy Socially Engineered Health Care Bill” specifically exempts all members of Congress and Administrations from having to join, use, employ, partake or otherwise be encumbered by the Impressive Reformation of America’s health care system.
This Transfiguration of our health care will elevate it into the number one spot ahead of Morocco, Dominica or Chili. Imagine the thrill of waiting for hip replacement or triple bypass surgery. (If you’re allowed to have them)
More succinctly, peasants, they get the gold mine; you get the shaft. Well Vermonters, this isn’t the dearly loved $5.99 all you can eat buffet. You’ll be on rationed care and those will be short rations.
TANSTAAFL, learn the acronym, you are going to understand the true meaning when you get what you ask for.
Filed under: Progressives/Socialists, Single Payer Health Care | Tagged: Fascism, Health Care, Leahy, Moonbats, Obama, Politicians, Sanders, Shap Smith, Shumlin, Taxes, Vermont Legislature
