Kennedy calls for employer-paid health coverage - Think Senator - who actually pays?

Boston Globe ^ | January 19, 20043 | Wayne Washington

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON - Employers with five or more workers would be required to pay for most of their health coverage under a new proposal from Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.

Kennedy, a Democrat, has long pushed for coverage of the uninsured, whose numbers are expected to rise over the 50 million mark within six years. His new plan would require employers to pay 75 percent of the cost of coverage for their employees, who would pay for the rest.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

- Champion of big government - Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Just how expensive the plan would be - or where the money for it would come from - is still being determined, Kennedy said.

Really, well here's a tip Ted, it will cost more and it will come out of paychecks.

[Support Free Republic]

Marxists aren't just pretending to want control
	Send them packing. Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Kennedy's plan would offer federal subsidies to small businesses to help defray the costs of providing coverage.

I guess those subsidies fall into the federal treasury while we're sleeping.

[friendly]

The democrats (or at least their trial lawyer contingency) destroy the health care delivery system, then seek to control it as the "saviors of the people."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The health care system is in a shambles. It sucks money from paychecks, demands tons of paperwork, employs countless clerks to file for expensive third-party pay, falls back on bean counters to select your ability to receive treatment, etc. Not to mention, law suit abuse by the Democratic Party's number one campaign contributors, trial lawyers.

[brooklin]

Ted better let us print our own money, because there is no way my wfe's business can afford to do this. There is a limit to what someone will spend on a cup of coffee.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

.... there is no way my wfe's business can afford to do this.

LIBERALS never get it right.

Ted needs to get a job. That exercise in reality might clear out the cobwebs.

[Moonman62]

''If this was an easy problem, it would have been solved long ago,'' he said.

Correction: If this were a problem that wasn't caused by government meddling, it would have been solved long ago.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump to that!

[mathluv]

Wasn't Teddy boy the one who pushed the bill that created HMO's? Now that they don't work, he wants to try another government mandated program. Dims want power, not rea-life solutions.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Employers with five or more workers would be required to pay for most of their health coverage under a new proposal from Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts."

FIVE or more employees?! ~Is he completely insane? ~ And, of course, he's going to tell them WHAT the coverage should be.

Hillary!'s behind this. It's her health care reform baby dressed in a clean diaper.

The dimms need to be stopped before they put a stake through the hearts of job creation AND the health care system.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hillary!'s behind this. It's her health care reform baby dressed in a clean diaper.

They've been slowing working universal health care in through public school programs.

[JZoback]

''Most employers provide coverage,'' he said. ''Those who aren't providing it are at a competitive advantage

This statement shows how either out of touch he is or just plain stupid.

Probably both

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Probably both

Bump!

[Right_in_Virginia]

The DemocRATS won't give up. We must educate the public and expose each attempt they make to incrementally implement the very plan voters said "no" to in 1994.

[meyer]

Well, I guess that being a democRAT, he doesn't mind more jobs going overseas. DUH!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I agree but sadly, it would seem, the majority is "getting" something from Uncle Sam and like it.

[FairWitness]

Kennedy's plan would offer federal subsidies to small businesses to help defray the costs of providing coverage. Firms with 10 or fewer employees and average wages of $10,000 or less would receive subsidies of half of the employer's costs.

In other words, taxpayers pay - halfway to universal "HIllary-Care".

[Caipirabob]

So we open a small business, relying on a low level wage earners so we can start building equity and grow the business. Now suddenly, the government tells me I must provide my employees with comprehensive medical insurance. I have four choices them 1) Lay off enough employees so I can cover the remaining 2) Reduce everyone's pay and offer them outright medical coverage for their labour 3) Fire all of them and rehire them as contractors 4) Screw the whole thing and close my doors, I'll never make any money anyway.

Oh, I love the part about the government providing "subsidies" for small businesses. So just how far and how long to I have to crawl on my knees on order to get them? One too many "Whites" working for me? "NO SUBSIDIES FOR YOU!" Only English speaking employees? "NO SUBSIDIES FOR YOU!" My small business plays heavily towards my Christian faith? "NO SUBSIDIES FOR YOU!"

Glory be! Sounds like a plan, Mr. Chappaquidic!

[Nubbin]

No sweat, as long as every employer gets the same break as the US Government. I work for the USDA and I don't have health care coverage. Here's how it works. You classify your employees as Temporary Workers and they are not entitled to retirement or insurance benefits. You renew their contract every year. At least half of USDA employees have worked 5, 10, 15, and even 20 years with USDA without insurance or retirement benefits.