Republicans Assail IRS Provision in Health Care Bill

[bonnie]

Republicans assail IRS provision in health care bill

By Vicki Needham - 03/18/10 03:22 PM ET

House Ways and Means Republicans on Thursday assailed a provision in the proposed health care reform bill under consideration this week.

Subcommittee on Oversight ranking member Charles Boustany (R-La.) said the IRS provision in the bill "dangerously expands, in an ominous way the tentacles of the IRS and it's reach into every American family," he said today during a press conference.

"This is a vast expanse of power," he said.

Boustany said the bill would allow the IRS to confiscate refunds if there are penalties for not buying health care.

Lawmakers have questioned whether the IRS can handle the increased workload to oversee, administer and collect penalties for people who don't buy health insurance.

"This is increasing tax liability and tax scrutiny," said Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.).

Ranking member Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said many Americans have already rejected the call for health care reform for other reasons and an expansion of the IRS should only add to call to "kill the bill."

Taxpayers could be required to buy insurance under President Barack Obama’s reform proposal by 2014 or face penalties of roughly $325 per individual that the IRS would collect.

Assuming it becomes law, the Congressional Budget Office expects the IRS will need roughly $10 billion over the next 10 years and nearly 17,000 new employees to meet its new responsibilities under health reform.

"We're going to fight to the end to see that this does not pass," Boustany said.

[olger]

Excellent observation, DG

og

[karl]

BONNIE

the IRS already has to mush power this would be

a disaster if they were given more power

dgrimm60

Your fingers haven't been drinkin' have they? :-)

[Gerr]

Yeah, the Republicans are against it, but what are they for?

Profits for their fat cat insurance companies with their lobby money?

[bonnie]

Yeah, the Republicans are against it, but what are they for?

Profits for their fat cat insurance companies with their lobby money?

I have read what most of the american people want tho and it isn't what Obama is selling with his "fat cat friends and unions".

As a whole most have no idea what Obama is for. Except that magic word socialized medicine.

Strangely enough he doesn't even know what he is for as to the senate bill as he has said he doesn't know what is in it.That is the only bill out there.

He has said it will not cover illegal aliens,when he was called on his lie the one doing so was tarred and feathered. Guess who will be covered now?

He also said that abortions would not be paid for with federal dollars.Seems he spoke a little quickly there as well.

He wants competition.What a strange way to provide it. The competition doesn't need to make a profit.They will just take it from others. Real competition is under his nose but does not provide the government control he wants. All they have to do is let insurance be bought across state lines and poof,businesses are competing.

You can technically keep your insurance but most successful businesses didn't get that way by being stupid.When the premiums they pay exceed what they can reasonably afford to pay anyone with any brains will pay the smaller amount in penalties. Government insurance.

Contrary to popular belief medicare already denies more claims than any "fat cat insurance" company. Can hardly wait to see what happens after adding more to the rolls and spending 500 billion less. 5th grade math should tell most what will happen.

Covering pre-existing conditions sounds great doesn't it? Explain to me why I should pay for insurance until a serious need arises when I can pay a small penalty..

I am going in for surgery on the 30th for an injury to my knee.This has been an ongoing issue for almost a year. Why shouldn't I be able to buy insurance the day of surgery and if all goes well cancel till the next serious health issue?

Obama foams at the mouth about insurance canceling when someone puts in a claim. He simply is not telling the truth.If you have been honest in your application it is illegal for them to do so. Nor do they hike the rates and price you out. My husband had a series of strokes and because of all the nonsense floating around,we expected that.

Checked with the insurance commissioner of MN and our agent.Again nothing but garbage. Our rates could not go up anymore than the normally scheduled rate increases everyone experiences.

We have never been turned down for medical services by the "fat cat insurance companies". We have by medicare and prescription D insurance.

Services that should have been covered were denied and ended up costing us over 1200.00. Non experimental prescription drugs have been refused for weeks as we fought to get them covered.

Because of the "kindness" of our benevolent government we are stuck. Technically we can opt out of medicare but in MN cannot purchase anything other than supplemental insurance. Supplemental insurance by the wisdom of the government cannot provide prescription drug coverage.

We pay more now for this wonderful government care than we did paying for private insurance with drug coverage with co-pays.

Personally we cannot afford to many more cost saving measures by the government

[Guest]

Amen Bonnie!

[CyberGuy]

Yeah, the Republicans are against it, but what are they for?

Profits for their fat cat insurance companies with their lobby money?

Yeah the Democrats are for it. More power for them to manupulate americans the way they the democrats thing americans should go. Oh and we the people are to STUPID to be able to read it on the internet so they the democrats will decide what is best for us poor poor illiterate children who cannot understand what is good for us. BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.