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Originally Posted by Derwood
so you don't believe the president when he says the bill is budget neutral and paid for?
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What I've read is that this bill is getting funding from three sources, an increased tax on those earning over $200K/$250K per year, a tax on expensive insurance plans and by saving a few hundred billion dollars in Medicare. The claim is that these revenue streams cover all the expenses. However, this is assuming that the money is actually coming in from these sources. We already know that the money from high cost insurance plans doesn't start coming in until 2018. Taxes on high income people don't start until 2011. Who knows when the government will really save hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicare.
Starting this year, seniors get a $250 credit, offsets to early retirement health expenses go into effect, businesses with < 50 employees get a 35% credit on their health care costs and adoption tax credit (WTF does this have to do with health care?) goes up by $1000. In addition, insurance companies get a whole lot on restriction imposed on them. That sure doesn't sound budget neutral to me. That sounds like there's more government funny money (loans) coming out of taxpayer pockets to pay for this.
And, as I stated before, we all know how well government revenue projections worked out over the last couple years. So I have little faith that this bill is anywhere near budget neutral.