Edwards Might Garnish Wages, Withhold Tax Refunds To Enforce Health Insurance Mandate

Kaiser Network ^ | Nov. 30, 2007 | Kaiser

[FocusNexus]

Presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) on Thursday in an interview said that, under his health care plan, U.S. residents who can afford to pay for health insurance could have their wages garnished or tax refunds withheld in the event that they do not obtain coverage, the Des Moines Register reports. The proposal would require all residents to obtain health insurance, with federal subsidies available to lower-income residents.

Edwards also said that the proposal would enroll uninsured residents in health plans when they use the health care system or public services. He said, "So if you don't have health coverage, and you go to the emergency room, you get enrolled. If you are a five- or six-year-old and you go to kindergarten or sign up for school, you get enrolled, if you're not on a health care plan. If you go to the library, you get picked up."

He added, "When somebody chooses not to be in our health care system, then what they're choosing is that the rest of America is going to pay for their health care" (Leys, Des Moines Register, 11/30).

In related news, the Register on Friday examined how voters "must decide ... if there are two John Edwardses" because, during his 2004 presidential campaign, he advocated a "gradual approach to health reform" but today he "embraces universal health care." According to the Register, his current health care proposal is "choreographed to endear him with his party's left in 2008."

[goldstategop]

The Silk Pony wants to force people to enroll in his health plan whether they want to or not. State mandated fascism at its finest.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[SkyDancer]

Still wonder what it will do to the industry ... will our rates now go up? Will the care go down? Hmmmmm

[beethovenfan]

“Everything not prohibited is compulsory”. The motto of the Democraps.

[Doctor Raoul]

"When somebody chooses not to be in our health care system, then what they're choosing is that the rest of America is going to pay for their health care"

Like illegals aren't...

[Obadiah]

Well, I give Edwards a LOT of credit!

At least he’s honest about being a Communist, versus the other Democrats who are lying about being Communists!

[Shermy]

“He is proposing the Massachusetts health care system-”

I didn’t know he was a “compassionate conservative”, i.e., big government acting as a collection agency/market generator for big insurance.

[Maceman]

Can anyone tell me what part of the Constitution would authorize the government to do this?

The same part that authorized government to implement Social Security. Which is to say, no part.

[Greg F]

Nothing like garnishing wages to make you popular.

[Myrddin]

Silky pony is mentally ill and power mad. A totalitarian socialist/communist to the core. The commie candidates Clinton, Obama and Edwards are all very similar. All leftist lawyers. All sitting or former members of the U.S. Senate. The only thing Edwards hasn't added to his agenda is gun grabbing.

[Condor51]

Presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) on Thursday .. said that, .. U.S. residents .. could have their wages garnished or tax refunds withheld in the event that they do not obtain coverage..

Well I'll be darned. I didn't know that the Silky Pony was the love child of Stalin.

Goes to show, ya learn something new every day.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

That’s what I thought.

[keepitreal]

If you are a five- or six-year-old and you go to kindergarten or sign up for school, you get enrolled, if you’re not on a health care plan.

Proof of insurance to get a public education. Wow.

[roses of sharon]

Bookmarking for fellow Americans who say, “well something has to be done”!

[boomop1]

This moron is history....

[Concho]

So my question is, how much of the insurance company will he own and how much will he make of this mandated coverage? Follow the $$$$——follow the $$$$$.

[maine-iac7]

If you go to the library, you get picked up."

These people are so far into Socialism they don't even have a clue that most Americans are going to be aghast at this.

God help us if we let a democrat back into the WH - AND let them keep control of the Senate and House....

We will have well over 50% of wages taken from us - we will march to their drummer and they lead us to our graves.

THIS is an issue we should beat the drums to LOUDLY from here to election. It will turn even a lot of libs from them - they'll vote their pocketbooks

[nothingnew]

He said, "So if you don't have health coverage, and you go to the emergency room, you get enrolled. If you are a five- or six-year-old and you go to kindergarten or sign up for school, you get enrolled, if you're not on a health care plan. If you go to the library, you get picked up."

under his health care plan, U.S. residents who can afford to pay for health insurance could have their wages garnished or tax refunds withheld in the event that they do not obtain coverage

BITS

FMCDH(BITS)

[Beagle8U]

The big difference with car insurance is you only have to buy it if you are going to use it.

Nobody is forced to have car ins if they don’t have a car.

To try to relate that to health ins they would have to say you must buy car ins, just in case you buy a car in the future.

[SpaceBar]

Silky pony is mentally ill and power mad. A totalitarian socialist/communist to the core.

My sentiments exactly. He's scum.

[maine-iac7]

I think that mandatory coverage is one of the least radical “solutions” out there. It would change relatively little about the current system.

Well, you got one thing right: your id name