Rep. Jackson-Lee: No ‘Penalty’ in ObamaCare, Only an ‘Incentive’ to Buy Health Insurance

CNSNews ^

[Sub-Driver]

Rep. Jackson-Lee: No ‘Penalty’ in ObamaCare, Only an ‘Incentive’ to Buy Health Insurance Thursday, February 17, 2011 By Matt Cover

(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) claimed that there was no financial penalty for not having health insurance under the new health care law, saying that it was in fact an “incentive” to get people to do the right thing.

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing about the individual mandate to buy insurance, Jackson-Lee said, “I would make the argument, one, that it [the individual mandate] is an incentive to do right – that it is not penalizing you because a penalty is punishment, and you’re not punished if you have health insurance, in fact.

“And so, you are in fact incentivized to have health insurance rather than take the negative, which is to suggest that because you have a penalty you’re being punished,” she said.

Jackson-Lee is incorrect, however, as the language of the law clearly states the following: “If an applicable individual fails to meet the requirement of subsection (a) [have government-approved insurance]… there is hereby imposed a penalty with respect to the individual, Section 5000A of the law reads.”

[Texas resident]

She gets elected over and over because she really represents her district. Really.
Her background is pretty fun to read over.
Lawyer from New York.
Had a couple of private sector jobs, but was always outraged over something and has less actual accomplishments than a manhole cover.
Local radio station has an audio clip of sheila with her yelling, “I’m outraged”. Used as comedy.

[OldMissileer]

I was looking at her picture and also a box of rocks sitting outside my window. Couldn’t tell the difference.

Hey! Stop insulting boxes of rocks! :-)

[massgopguy]

Her constituents are idiots too.

[trisham]

How she gets to work and finds her way back home is beyond me.

I'm guessing that this dullard has an IQ that is well below average.

[dblshot]

Demograhic gerrymandering my friend. However her district is changing and there is hope.

[dblshot]

How she gets to work and finds her way back home is beyond me
She has a chauffeured car double parked in front of her crib to drive her the two blocks to work.

[dblshot]

I guess the electric chair is an incentive to keep people from killing cops too.

[Calvin Locke]

At least she has the House title, although Mad Maxine is up there.

[Redleg Duke]

"It’s a shame that stupidity isn’t painful"

It is painful, but we are the ones it hurts!

[MarkL]

Sort of like saying "The beatings will continue until your attitude improves." I guess that would be incentive, rather than punishment, as far as this BEM is concerned.

Mark

[trisham]

I wonder how the driver feels, working for her? It must be like driving a large head of cabbage around town.

[Da Coyote]

When she has an IQ test with a rock, she’s seriously outmatched.

[rfreedom4u]

No penalty??

My daughter got caught drinking underage here in Colorado. I was told I have to pay a “donation” of $325.00. Of course it’s a MANDATORY DONATION. I refer to it as a fine and keep getting corrected by the ADA. So I asked if I could claim it on taxes since it was a “donation” and government is a non-profit organization.

[SampleMan]

Incentive?? Yea, like the Mafia gives you an incentive to pay your tribute.

[NRA1995]

So a thief holding a gun to your head is merely an “incentive” to hand over your wallet

[Shugee]

Texas District 18 contains Houston inner city and you know how inner cities are. Previous seat held by Barbara Jordan (1973-9) and the district has been continuously Democrat since. SJL is considered an embarrasingly entertaining attentionwhore and has been doing her bit since 95. Her celebrity status will probably keep getting her reelected for some time. Some of the funniest radio moments are when local conservative radio host Michael Berry talks about the insane/inane logic of SJL, which always leads to his shouting in his Texas accent “Sheila Jackson-Lee, SHUT YOUR BIG MOUTH!” in frustration. She’s certifiable.

[happilymarriedmom]

“I would make the argument, one, that it [the individual mandate] is an incentive to do right – that it is not penalizing you because a penalty is punishment, and you’re not punished if you have health insurance, in fact.

“And so, you are in fact incentivized to have health insurance rather than take the negative, which is to suggest that because you have a penalty you’re being punished,” she said.

That’s some pretty fancy double talkin there

[Georgia Girl 2]

Well she’s right. The IRS coming after you would be a strong incentive. lol!!!

[Calvin Locke]

You know, one can see her point. Specifically, in the last paragraph,
replace "uninsured" as in her context of [willfully] "uninsured" -
hence the need for an "incentive" - one could extend her argument
to the "willfully unemployed" to "caus[ing] catastrophic harm to
the nation and others after the fact".

How long do you think she'd last with a substantial portion of her
voters if they were "incentivized" to get off welfare and other
such "entitlements"?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

A cattle prod is an incentive too, isn't it?