Kennedy Set to Include Disability Plan in Bill (funded by $320 billion annual tax)

Wall Street Journal ^ | May 30, 2009 | Laura Meckler

[reaganaut1]

Sen. Edward Kennedy plans a new disability-insurance program that would automatically enroll all American workers as part of the sweeping health-care bill he is preparing to introduce, aides said Friday.

Premiums would automatically be charged, and in many cases deducted from workers' paychecks, unless they choose to opt out of the disability program. The idea is to give all workers a basic level of protection in case they become disabled. But it could draw complaints from people who see it as a de facto tax, given that few workers are expected to opt out.

On average, premiums could not exceed $65 per month, according to a Senate aide who described the provision in detail.

Participants would be entitled to a cash benefit of at least $50 a day if they become so disabled they cannot participate in at least two or three activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing or using the toilet. The money could be used for expenses to support staying in one's home.

If all American workers participated, one estimate found that the program would collect $320 billion in its first year, the Senate aide said. The money would be put into its own separate fund, not available to other government spending.

Overall, Mr. Kennedy's legislation aims to fix the nation's health-care system by creating a new public health-insurance plan, requiring individuals to buy health-insurance coverage and employers to help provide it and creating new exchanges that would allow Americans to comparison shop for health insurance, according to a committee briefing paper reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which Sen. Kennedy chairs, plan to meet behind closed doors starting Tuesday to discuss exactly what will be in the measure, according to a Senate aide.

[reaganaut1]

"If all American workers participated, one estimate found that the program would collect $320 billion in its first year, the Senate aide said. The money would be put into its own separate fund, not available to other government spending."

Yes, the $320 billion would be set aside and not spent, just like Social Security taxes. Bull.

[silverleaf]

Another lock box?

Guarded by a den of professional lock pickers.

[hinckley buzzard]

This provision if passed would solve a major part of the unemployment problem. European countries with liberal disability laws have found high numbers of their workers suddenly becoming disabled and "medically retired" at early ages. At least when a third of the workforce is "disabled" they won't need to collect unemployment.

This idea would be a cancer on the economy that would make Kennedy's brain tumor look like an excedrin headache.

[Condor51]

Sen. Edward Kennedy plans a new disability-insurance program ... If all American workers participated, one estimate found that the program would collect $320 billion in its first year, the Senate aide said.

The money would be put into its own separate fund, not available to other government spending.

Yep there's no doubt. Kennedy's brain is completely gone.

[KoRn]

"The money would be put into its own separate fund, not available to other government spending."

lol!!!

[GeorgiaDawg32]

The money would be put into its own separate fund, not available to other government spending.

ROFL..well, if the gubmint said it, it must be true..

[big'ol_freeper]

Can you just imagine how many upstanding citizens would all of a sudden become disabled?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Before: Tax and Spend.

Enter: Era of "Change We Can Belive In".

After: Spend and Tax.

[gussiefinknottle]

Apparently nothing can kill this guy. Airplane crash, drive into water,
alcoholism and brain cancer.

[Girlene]

Participants would be entitled to a cash benefit of at least $50 a day if they become so disabled they cannot participate in at least two or three activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing or using the toilet.

LOL. Yep, not being able to eat, bathe, or use the toilet would prevent someone from being able to work. I think I'd rather buy into a true disability plan through work that pays just a little bit more without such drastic requirements for payment.

[Thank You Rush]

Don’t most states have disability insurance - deductions from paychecks? It’s SDI in CA but how about other states?

This man is too ill to still be writing legislation. Well, I doubt he’s ever put two coherent thoughts together but certainly unable to start now.

Is it covered in the Constitution, Ted? If not - bug out.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This is not hard to understand. Check your Yellow Pages for law firms doing nothing but disability claims...

[denydenydeny]

The money would be put into its own separate fund, not available to other government spending

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, government cannot allow money to just sit there.

[headstamp 2]

“The money would be put into its own separate fund, not available to other government spending. “

I’ll comment when I can stop laughing.

We are so screwed with the lunatics running the asylum here.

[Thank You Rush]

“The money would be put into its own separate fund, not available to other government spending. “

Why in the devil do they want the $$$ if they are going to be locked away and not spent on other things?

Jeez Ted, we are not as stupid as YOUR voters are.

[JavaJumpy]

Wow. $65/month charged by the government versus $15/month charged by my employer for a government that is much better at controlling costs?

I echo the “We are so screwed” comment.

[Paige]

I thought we were BROKE? I thought the OHmessiah said we were OUT of money?

[GOPJ]

Participants would be entitled to a cash benefit of at least $50 a day if they become so disabled they cannot participate in at least two or three activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing or using the toilet. The money could be used for expenses to support staying in one's home.

How long before the "underclass" teachers their children how to do "at least two or three "SUCH AS"...

And how long before dems redefine "such as" to mean getting out of bed to go to school - or having a drug problem - etc. etc...

[GOPJ]

We are sooooooo screwed.

[mo]

Tell me THIS won’t be politicized...every Chicago connected campaign donor and union/community organizer will be on “disability”....