House bill passes: One step closer to health care reform, but many steps to go

From the Community…

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  Posted by Mhu Sun Nov 8, 2009 4:12pm PST

  Thiis is a criminal fiasco, and the first step towards Marxism in our coubtry's history. Proponents ignore the other government-created fiascos, some of which we are still tring to straighten out decades later. This is an entitlement system. It disrupts our economy at a time when it is weak. Open your eyes.

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  Posted by Mhu Sun Nov 8, 2009 4:24pm PST

  Reprinted Verbatim From The House Committee On Ways & Means --

  http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=153583

  PELOSI: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail

  JCT Confirms Failure to Comply with Democrats’ Mandate Can Lead to 5 Years in Jail

  Friday, November 06, 2009

  Today, 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]

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

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  “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.

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  I encourage all who are tickled about this bill to realize that about $25,000 of your income will go directly to a $15,000 policy. You also will pay taxes to cover others. You also will be covering illegals.

  Read this article. Do your research. Open your eyes.

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  Posted by DanieleV Sun Nov 8, 2009 4:30pm PST

  i hope it doesnt pass!!! we will be forced to buy healthcare and frankly, i dont want it!! nature is our best medicine--we should be doing more research in that to get healthy bodies!!

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  Posted by David Sun Nov 8, 2009 5:02pm PST

  Wait until this actually passes through and watch the middle class $500,000 and under become totally destitute and seek financial assistance from the Government. Hey, its got to be paid for and believe me, YOU the American citizen were NOT the priority here, political gain by the liberal left is. Be prepared to grab your ankles and pucker up as Obama and Co. deliver the "change" you wanted so bad!

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  Posted by David Sun Nov 8, 2009 5:06pm PST

  Common sense tells me to add 2 quarts of oil if needed, rather then replace the whole damn engine! You my friends, have just been "punked" by Obama, Biden, Pelosi, Reid etc.

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• 
  Posted by David Sun Nov 8, 2009 5:22pm PST

  Wait until this actually passes through and watch the middle class $500,000 and under become totally destitute and seek financial assistance from the Government. Hey, its got to be paid for and believe me, YOU the American citizen were NOT the priority here, political gain by the liberal left is. Be prepared to grab your ankles and pucker up as Obama and Co. deliver the "change" you wanted so bad!

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  Posted by Robyn Sun Nov 8, 2009 7:14pm PST

  im an obama fan but i feel cheapskatd, and very disappointed

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  Posted by WilliamM Sun Nov 8, 2009 11:15pm PST

  May the diety of your choice help us all...

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  Posted by Katie B Mon Nov 9, 2009 6:16am PST

  Personally for me, there are some things in this bill that I do like... and I have said it from the beginning...

  However, it is my understanding that people will be forced to get health insurance, whether they want it or not and can afford it or not, either by much higher taxation (pretty much forcing individuals or families to opt into the public option by default) or fines of up to $25,000 or 5 years imprisonment (pretty much for tax evasion which could be done by those that do not want to opt in).... I do not like and legislation that makes choices for people instead of allowing people/families to make that decision on their own... It's one thing if this were an attempt to make health insurance cheaper and more accessible for those that want/need health insurance but can't afford it... it's a totally different matter when it is forcing people that don't want it yet still can afford it to get it.

  I don't like anything that hinders a persons choice, even if it's a bad choice.

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  Posted by Arizona Mon Nov 9, 2009 6:43am PST

  Another Obama supporter here who isn't thrilled with this plan.

  If you're going to force people who already can't afford health coverage, you really need a public option. Forcing us to pay for insurance doesn't help the situation at all. And I'm still confused as to why AARP supports the bill when yesterday I read an article that stated there would be nearly $400 Billion cut from Medicare? Maybe someone can help me out and straighten out the facts?

  I hope the Senate shoots it down.

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