Kerry proposes universal coverage by 2012 [pay for the program by repealing tax cuts.....]

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

Kerry proposes universal coverage by 2012

By GLEN JOHNSON, AP Political Writer 10 minutes ago

Sen. John Kerry on Monday will propose requiring all Americans to have health insurance by 2012, "with the federal government guaranteeing they have the means to afford it."

The Massachusetts Democrat, whose name is figuring prominently in 2008 White House speculation, will repeat his 2004 presidential campaign call for expanding the federal Medicaid program to cover children.

In a speech scheduled for midday Monday at Faneuil Hall in Boston, he will advocate creating a program to cover catastrophic cases so an employer providing insurance doesn't have to pass the cost to his other workers, and offering Americans the ability to buy into the same insurance program used by federal workers, such as members of Congress.

Kerry will propose to pay for the program by repealing tax cuts enacted during the Bush administration that benefit those earning over $200,000 annually. He is not expected to immediately elaborate on how he would get his insurance mandate enacted into law.

"One of my biggest regrets is that fear talk trumped the health care talk, and that we are less safe abroad and less healthy at home because of that," Kerry will say according to the prepared text of remarks he planned to deliver.

The senator already had delivered two other speeches at the Revolutionary War meeting house laying the ground work for a second presidential campaign.

Kerry also promoted his health care proposal in a Boston Globe op-ed piece published Monday morning, and during an appearance on Don Imus's nationally syndicated radio program.

In the text of his prepared speech, Kerry concedes that his health care proposal is virtually the same as one he outlined during his failed campaign for the White House in 2004.

[Sub-Driver]

socialism again.......

[LIConFem]

Let Mrs. Kerry pay for it, and leave the tax cuts alone. After all, "from each according to his means, ...", right?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

From each according to his abilities.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ketchup for everyone!

[TWohlford]

Gov Granholm here in Michigan proposed the same thing this weekend. Gosh, do you think that the Dems (at least some) are coordinating efforts?

[LIConFem]

Same difference...

[kabar]

Repealing the tax cuts will not come anywhere near covering the costs of universal coverage. Pure sophistry.

[RoadTest]

Leave it to a Dimocrat to find an excuse to raise taxes!

[N. Theknow]

Apparently, Sir Ketchup hasn't been reading the tax receipts ledger lately. Revenues are up, as they always are when there is a tax cut.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

From each according to his pandering

[finnman69]

It wont be so popular in 2007 when the housing bubble pain becomes widespread and a subject of the evening MSM news.

[hauerf]

How about we pay for the tax cuts by "repealing" the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

[colonel mosby]

Heck, why just repeal the tax cuts ? Let's come up with some new taxes.

In Tennessee, when you die, the feds get 46% of your assets, and the state gets another 10%. You've already paid about 50% of your income to the taxman while you were alive, but so what ?

John Kerry has a master plan for your money. So, let's pony up some more cash for him and his pals to work with.

[WhiteGuy]

socialism again.......

Indeed, just like the medicare drug entitlement........

[Illuminatas]

The primary falsehood in sKerry's argument is using tax cuts to pay for his program. Assuming tax revenues are a static system is one of the many delusions of the left.

As we all know, cutting taxes raises revenue (up to a point but we are nowhere near that point).

If he was honest in his desire to do this, he would propose a tax cut to pay for universal health care. But of course, that means an end to class warfare, which along with the race card, are the democrat tactics of choice.

What a pandering ass.

[LIConFem]

"How about we pay for the tax cuts by "repealing" the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare."

Don't tease me!

[Skooz]

Any nation that would elect these bozos to power has nullified its right to exist.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Increase taxes for those over 200,000.00 per year.

OK. So, if you took 50% (75% ?) of the INCOME (NOT - I notice, inherited or investment-type capital, but just "income") of EVERYBODY who earned over 200,000.00 last year, could you pay the (approximately 5000.00 per year for the 60,000,000 who (the liberals claim) do not have "health care"?

Let's see. 5000.00 x 60,000,000 = ....

See, you have to count the "employer-matching" cost of most plans, the co-pays, and the loss of the tax-exempt part of the health care for employees that is the FUNDEMENTAL reason company health care plans are available.

If the company could not deduct the health care from its taxes owned, it would not offer health insurance reasonably.

[GreenAccord]

Well, since we can expect free health care, I would hope they also propose to provide everyone with a plasma TV and a jet ski. If this is all under the premise of 'pursuit of happiness' and 'general welfare', then nothing would make me happier and generally well than a big, old hi-def TV I can mount on the wall, and a personal watercraft for the weekends!

This concludes my sarcastic statement.

[6ppc]

Just curious...how many different ways has Kerry now spent the tax cut repeal? 5...6?