Posted on 07/26/2009 8:55:53 AM PDT by MaestroLC
White House officials are embracing a plan to tax "gold-plated, Cadillac" insurance policies, giving momentum to an idea that is receiving bipartisan consideration on Capitol Hill.
"A premium charge on top of the most expensive packages is one of the ways to ensure that there's a lid on health-care costs," a top administration official told POLITICO. "The president believes this is an intriguing idea."
Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said Friday on Bloomberg TV that he is "taking an intense look at it."
And top House leadership official told POLITICO that the plan is "something we can live with."
The idea meshes with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's comments in recent interviews that the medical industry, including insurers, can do more to contribute to the cost of health-reform legislation.
Obama told Jim Lehrer of PBS' "NewsHour" on Monday: "What's being talked about now, I understand, is the possibility of penalizing insurance companies who are offering super, gold-plated Cadillac plans.
"I haven't seen the details of this yet, but it may be an approach that doesn't put additional burdens on middle-class families," Obama said. "My whole goal is not to add burdens to folks who are already having tough times affording insurance, but actually to relieve it. And so I've got to look at the details of that before I make any kind of final determination.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) has floated the plan, which would charge an excise tax on policies that exceed a specific amount, perhaps tied to the average benefit received by federal employees.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Taxing.....
The cure all for everything unattainable.
If I had a gold plated health plan and was then taxed on it, I’d make damn sure i got my monies worth. I’d go to the doctor everytime I stubbed my toe just to make a point.
Then the Congresscritters better be prepared to pay one whopping tax on their ‘gold plated plan.”
So, we'll be taxed indirectly by higher premiums! Out one door and in another window!
Head slap time. No Bipartisan outreach by GOP! We’ve got this on the ropes as much as we can. If we are going to put this dog down, the time is now. I’d rather see a plan that is 100% disaster pass w/o any GOP votes than a 95% disaster pass with some GOP support.
Grassley is an idiot. Instead of compromising with these Marxists, he should be simply telling these central planners NO!
Politics of envy.
Synonymous with union wages being based upon government set wages
That has worked well...
So if you go outside the government plan, you have to pay a tax on it?
Obama better change his line, “If you want to keep you current plan, you can, but there will be a tax on it.”
But this window will be made with government approved glass.
It's worth the comfort level isn't it? /s
Well if we tax gold-plated plans, I hope the Congress Plan and union plans are first in line.
Of course Congress and government employees will be exempted from the tax.
Agreed. This guy keeps embarrasing us every time he opens his mouth. He is a complete idiot and should be voted out ASAP. The problem is, Iowa Republicrats still kiss his ass.
As I recall he said no new taxes of ANY KIND — not Cap Gains, not income, etc. on anyone making below $250,000. Many making far less will be taxed on what had been a compensatory benefit.
HUGE CAMPAIGN PROMISE BROKEN! Anyone keeping track?
If we could tax a$$holes the budget would be balanced and the democrats would be extinct
1. Sarah Palin is accused and sued for an ethics violation simply by wearing a jacket emblazed with a corporate logo.
2. Obama forces taxpayers to bailout auto-workers union bosses by purchasing GM.
3. Now Obama actively promotes the “Cadillac” brand by associating it with being “gold-plated.”
This juxtaposition may perplex some liberals.
It’s over socialist, time to get over it and move on. This is like trying to hide an elephant under a washcloth. There isn’t enough money under ANY scheme where you are not significantly raising marginal rates on people under 250k or significantly cutting benefits to medicare and medicaid. #1 is politically untenable for most Dems as is #2. this is all a fan dance, this bill is a Zombie and this posturing is pure theater. At least they aren’t going through the motions like Cap and Tax where it will die in committee. Obama’s issue was being to bold, too outspoken and too brazen right out of the gate. He attracted attention to himself and made it personal, bad thing to do in that town. I got to hand it to the MSM they took a doofus like Big Ears who won 52% of the vote and generated some Mo for him. 48% approval and dropping faster than any president at this point n his term, wonderfully done Axelrod and Emmauel...brilliant!
This entire proposition is hideous from top to bottom.
Not only is it 100 percent wrong in principle, but the government has shown a continual record of incompetence and utter dereliction and dishonesty on the health care issue in the past. It should have no say whatsoever, of any kind, in private health insurance.
Grassley is not only one of the dumbest men on Capitol Hill, but in his comments above he is despicable.
>>> He is a complete idiot and should be voted out ASAP. The problem is, Iowa Republicrats still kiss his ass. <<<<
He is the dumbest Senator on Capitol Hill.
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