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Does exempting unions from health care tax lower costs?

  • iclfan2
    Footwedge wrote: So relax everybody...I wouldn't get everybody's panties all twisted up. It ain't gonna pass legislation as stands. The red challenge flag will be tossed on the field.
    That doesn't make it OK that he is stupid enough to even think about trying to pass it.
  • Footwedge
    iclfan2 wrote:
    Footwedge wrote: So relax everybody...I wouldn't get everybody's panties all twisted up. It ain't gonna pass legislation as stands. The red challenge flag will be tossed on the field.
    That doesn't make it OK that he is stupid enough to even think about trying to pass it.
    Oh I agree. But remember...the president doesn't make the laws in our country. Never has, and never will.

    I've read a few articles differing from the one posted. This is another negotiation ploy. Other articles have stated that Obama was dead against this....but caved to it on concessions.

    That type of crap goes on no matter who's in power.
  • Apple
    Footwedge wrote:
    iclfan2 wrote:
    Footwedge wrote: So relax everybody...I wouldn't get everybody's panties all twisted up. It ain't gonna pass legislation as stands. The red challenge flag will be tossed on the field.
    That doesn't make it OK that he is stupid enough to even think about trying to pass it.
    Oh I agree. But remember...the president doesn't make the laws in our country. Never has, and never will...
    So, if it is included, will BHO live by his solum vow to uphold the constitution and veto this bill on the fact that the union exemption is unconstitutional?

    I highly doubt it. He has an agenda and will get as much of it passed while he can. Let the legality be settled later and the opposition take the blame for taking away this so-called reform.

    On an aside, Footwedge, what you have posted on this thread, quite frankly, is refreshing, given some posts I have seen from you. :)
  • Footwedge
    ^^^I just calls em the way I sees em Apple. I'm sure I'll piss you off again in the near future. :D

    Again...as for his agenda, I've already posted that the president was dead against this idea. But he "caved" in the negotiation process.

    Would you like to read the article? i will be happy to dig it up.

    Every poster on this thread pretty much hates Obama. I just thought that I would offer another news source.
  • Writerbuckeye
    Don't confuse our hatred of his POLICIES (primarily domestic) with HIM.

    I don't care about him, quite frankly.

    I do, however, loathe what he is trying to DO.
  • believer
    Footwedge wrote:Every poster on this thread pretty much hates Obama. I just thought that I would offer another news source.
    I don't hate BHO the man. I loathe what he represents. C'mon Footie. You should know better than to stereotype!
  • cbus4life
    believer wrote:
    Footwedge wrote:Every poster on this thread pretty much hates Obama. I just thought that I would offer another news source.
    I don't hate BHO the man. I loathe what he represents. C'mon Footie. You should know better than to stereotype!
    And you should take your own advice, in regards to not using generalized, idiotic stereotypes. :D

    And, for the record, i'm pissed at Obama at the moment. :D

    Bah humbug. Again, if they pass this healthcare BS, i'm done.
  • Mr. 300
    I don't want a president who caves, I want a leader. But that leader also has to have an agenda that is good for all of America, not just his money donors.
  • QuakerOats
    gut wrote: Wow, could this guy get any more socialist? Taxing existing health benefits could certainly make the marginal difference in the cost advantage of a union. I know places that have voted down unions have often done so on the basis that they don't feel the benefits justify the dues. But now you could be talking a $1500-$2000 tax benefit.

    I thought Obamanomics would be bad, but I never expected to abhor it so much. Beyond disastrous. His subservience to unions has to be surprising to even the most jaded right-winger.

    Post of the Week.

    What is so incredible is the crassness with which the Obama/Pelosi/Reid dictatorship governs .......... blatantly buying votes, and they don't give a rats ass what anyone thinks. It is worse than I imagined and I knew they were radical socialists (or worse) going in..........

    God save the Republic
  • Bigdogg
    How many posters on here have actually done any research on the health care plan?
  • Apple
    QuakerOats wrote:...What is so incredible is the crassness with which the Obama/Pelosi/Reid dictatorship governs .......... blatantly buying votes, and they don't give a rats ass what anyone thinks...
    Is THIS what BHO was talking about when he said things would be done with transparency?!?!?!
  • majorspark
    I wonder what lucky group of Americans gets to make up the difference from the exclusion of union members.
  • tk421
    majorspark wrote: I wonder what lucky group of Americans gets to make up the difference from the exclusion of union members.
    http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourHealth/health-bill-may-impose-marriage-penalty.aspx?page=1

    Married people who don't have employer insurance.
  • Bigdogg
    The article actually says its a phase in of the tax similar to a lot of the provisions. Its funny how many people on here want to twist the facts. How about of few other facts:

    According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, health care premiums increased a whopping 131% from 1999 to 2009. The average contribution of a worker increased 128% from 1999 to 2009.The CPI-U US City Average Medical Care increased 13.4% from 2004 to 2009. Health care premiums have outpaced inflation 2.5 to 1 from 2004 to 2009

    This is not sustainable and some kind of SIGNIFICANT health care reform must be passed. Here is a good place to educate yourself

    http://healthreform.kff.org/

    http://www.cbo.gov/publications/collections/health.cfm
  • Captain Cavalier
    Mr. 300 wrote: I don't want a president who caves, I want a leader. But that leader also has to have an agenda that is good for all of America, not just his money donors.
    Agreed.

    Sadly, those days are gone for both parties unless "We the People" keep up the heat.
  • gut
    Bigdogg wrote: The article actually says its a phase in of the tax similar to a lot of the provisions. Its funny how many people on here want to twist the facts. How about of few other facts:

    Health care premiums have outpaced inflation 2.5 to 1 from 2004 to 2009
    Here's my issue with that logic:

    Inflation is what it is. Some sectors/goods&services saw increases relative to average inflation. However, this was largely offset by decreases in other places. I really find no issues so long as overall inflation remains relatively low and stable. At different times and according to population/consumer trends, different areas are going to be winners and losers relative to inflation. We all have seen the run-up in energy prices, but energy was a big loser for nearly 20 years post-'82 or so.

    Without getting into a great philosophical debate about price fixing, collusion and gouging, there IS an element of supply and demand at work here. MY QUESTION is whether a govt option will actually impact that in a positive manner. Even if it does, you have to consider it from a net perspective in that the govt program is going to cost money. If I "pay" $1000 to support the govt option, and see my premiums drop $1000 as a result, then have I gained anything?

    As far as drugs, I could see the govt reducing cost because other countries' socialized medicine programs have negotiated lower premiums with Big Pharma. However, on the cost of healthcare insurance, I think there is plenty of competition (and many groups with buying power) and don't expect a govt competitor to make much, if any, impact.