Senate won't OK House health-care measure

The glow from a health-care triumph faded quickly for President Barack Obama yesterday as Democrats realized the bill they fought so hard to pass in the House has nowhere to go in the Senate.

[VOTE]

PELOSI: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail
Posted by Press Release on Nov 8th, 2009 and filed under Headline News, Photos, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Washington, D.C.-



Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage� and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

In response to the JCT letter, Camp said:“This is the ultimate example of the Democrats’ command-and-control style of governing – buy what we tell you or go to jail. It is outrageous and it should be stopped immediately.�

Key excerpts from the JCT letter appear below:

“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.�[page 1]

-–-–-â

“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…�[page 2]

-–-–-â

“Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.�[page 3]

When confronted with this same issue during its consideration of a similar individual mandate tax, the Senate Finance Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to include language in its bill that shielded Americans from civil and criminal penalties. The Pelosi bill, however, contains no similar language protecting American citizens from civil and criminal tax penalties that could include a $250,000 fine and five years in jail.

“The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration. Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates. Fortunately, Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare,� said Camp.

According to the Congressional Budget Office the lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker’s bill would cost $15,000 in 2016. Democrats cheered and high-fived each other in the House chamber after lawmakers voted 220 to 215 to pass the landmark measure at 11:12 p.m. A lone GOPer, Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana, backed the bill, while 39 Dems defected. VOTE THE 220 LAWMARKERS THAT SUPPORT THIS EVIL BILL OUT IN 2010

[VOTE]

“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.�[page 1]
-–-–-â
“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…�[page 2]
-–-–-â
“Criminal penalties
Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.�[page 3]\
VOTE THE 220 LAWMAKERS OUT 2010 THAT SUPPORT THIS EVIL HEALTH CARE BILL!!!!!!!!!!

[really]

Finally, some good news out of Washington.

[Jim]

The real kick is that the upper class who can afford to have health insurance will be funding the people who can't afford it through Obama's redistribution and neither will never have to worry about breaking the law which leaves the struggling middle class hanging. This is the change you voted for.

[CSD]

Dead-duck bill and electorial dead-dog Mary Jo Kilroy in 2010. Add her name to the list that includes John Boccieri and Zack Space.

[toledojim]

And if anyone thinks they are going to get free health care insurance from the House bill, think again. Those subsidies won't make up for what you will pay in premiums.

[Vox Populi]

The calculus on this is simple as stated by the moderates. Repeal the antitrust exemption and give health insurers one last chance to reform before wiping them out with a public option, as such an option would inevitably do. While they have brought this all on themselves and deserve failure, they still have a lot of money and will stifle reform. We need to get what we can now, elect more Democrats and go back against them later when we're stronger and they have not yet reformed, which we all know they will not. They will simply have no excuse at that point. They'll be ripe for slaughter at that point.

[Joe in Columbus]

That's it ! I have had enough. MJ Kilroy has go to go, she is way too liberal for my district. She voted for "cap & tax"; and now this ?
2010 ---> anybody BUT Mary Jo Kilroy

[lfod]

Joe in Columbus wrote:

That's it ! I have had enough. MJ Kilroy has go to go, she is way too liberal for my district. She voted for "cap & tax"; and now this ?
2010 ---> anybody BUT Mary Jo Kilroy

She was a former Columbus public school board member, so her spend everyones money for them "mentality" is no suprise. ditch the witch in 2010

[Eddie C]

I pity ANYONE who actually voted for Obamacare in the house. They just walked the plank. Come on 2010. They just poked the bear.

[Ohio Lawyer]

VOTE wrote:

PELOSI: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail
Posted by Press Release on Nov 8th, 2009 and filed under Headline News, Photos, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
Washington, D.C.-
Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage� and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.
In response to the JCT letter, Camp said:“This is the ultimate example of the Democrats’ command-and-control style of governing – buy what we tell you or go to jail. It is outrageous and it should be stopped immediately.�
Key excerpts from the JCT letter appear below:
“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.�[page 1]
-–-–-â
“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…�[page 2]
-–-–-â
“Criminal penalties
Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:
• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.�[page 3]
When confronted with this same issue during its consideration of a similar individual mandate tax, the Senate Finance Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to include language in its bill that shielded Americans from civil and criminal penalties. The Pelosi bill, however, contains no similar language protecting American citizens from civil and criminal tax penalties that could include a $250,000 fine and five years in jail.
“The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration. Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates. Fortunately, Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare,� said Camp.
According to the Congressional Budget Office the lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker’s bill would cost $15,000 in 2016. Democrats cheered and high-fived each other in the House chamber after lawmakers voted 220 to 215 to pass the landmark measure at 11:12 p.m. A lone GOPer, Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana, backed the bill, while 39 Dems defected. VOTE THE 220 LAWMARKERS THAT SUPPORT THIS EVIL BILL OUT IN 2010

Note that the post says individuals have the option of paying the penalty if they insist on not getting insurance. Mandatory health coverage is no more illogical or imposing than mandatory auto insurance, which is the law in every state in the US. You need manadtory coverage to spread risk, you want people covered so that costs don't get borne by expensive ER services, and young people will be able to get affordable coverage based on lower risk. Yours is a crap post from a dumb poster.

[Ohio Lawyer]

Joe in Columbus wrote:

That's it ! I have had enough. MJ Kilroy has go to go, she is way too liberal for my district. She voted for "cap & tax"; and now this ?
2010 ---> anybody BUT Mary Jo Kilroy

You didnt vote for her last year. Who cares about your vote?

[4 the Founders]

Only if one CHOOSES to own and drive an auto you dumbass.

Ohio Lawyer wrote:

<quoted text>
Note that the post says individuals have the option of paying the penalty if they insist on not getting insurance. Mandatory health coverage is no more illogical or imposing than mandatory auto insurance, which is the law in every state in the US. You need manadtory coverage to spread risk, you want people covered so that costs don't get borne by expensive ER services, and young people will be able to get affordable coverage based on lower risk. Yours is a crap post from a dumb poster.

[Ohio Lawyer]

4 the Founders wrote:

Only if one CHOOSES to own and drive an auto you ****.
<quoted text>

Ok. So dont choose to eat, breathe, have a heartbeat or poop, and you wont have to worry about access to health care. Or else get insurance.

[Marianne 20]

Eddie C wrote:

I pity ANYONE who actually voted for Obamacare in the house. They just walked the plank. Come on 2010. They just poked the bear.

It certainly will be hilarious next year. Along with rampant unemployment, Obama will be quite stressed. He deserves all the stress that's coming to him. It's a curse for bashing Bush.