Unions’ Health Benefits May Avoid Tax Under Proposal

[targus]

"The U.S. Senate proposal to impose taxes for the first time on “gold-plated” health plans may bypass generous employee benefits negotiated by unions."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aDvu77pZr7k4


So everyone else gets whacked with a new tax except unions and federal employees?

Where's the fairness in that?

Oh... I forgot... it isn't about fairness - it's about pay offs for political contributions.

 

[Bob Alkire]

"The U.S. Senate proposal to impose taxes for the first time on “gold-plated” health plans may bypass generous employee benefits negotiated by unions."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aDvu77pZr7k4


So everyone else gets whacked with a new tax except unions and federal employees?

Where's the fairness in that?

Oh... I forgot... it isn't about fairness - it's about pay offs for political contributions.

I think you have hit the nail on the head!!!

 

[billwald]

>It can also affect companies such as Henderson, Nevada- based Zappos.com, where workers’ $11 per hour pay is supplemented by employer-paid health insurance plans worth about $7,500. Federal workers’ health benefits are worth about $4,200 for individuals and $13,000 for families.

That's about $3.60/hour in medical benefits. How many of you out there have medical benefits worth almost half your pay rate?

 

[OldRegular]

I think Congress and "bo" should get the same medical benefits they are foisting off on the people. We might get term limits given that medical care will be rationed for the elderly.

 

[carpro]

It's unAmerican, bordering on the criminal, and should be unconstitutional.

 

[Revmitchell]

Odrama campaigned against McCain accusing him of wanting to tax health benefits. Now Odrama is wanting to do it. Is there and honest bone anywhere in his body?

 

[Bro. Curtis]

How will his constituency spin this ?

 

[OldRegular]

How will his constituency spin this ?

Blame it on the Republicans!

 

[carpro]

How will his constituency spin this ?

No matter how they try, it is nothing more than a political payoff.

 

[LeBuick]

It's unAmerican, bordering on the criminal, and should be unconstitutional.

I agree Carpro (did I say that???).

This is where we can really use the GOP. Instead of resisting every idea on the plate and throwing blanket statements that make them appear anti-health care reform, I would have like to have seen them save political clout for things like this. I believe this is a legitimate gripe and hope it doesn't make the final draft.

 

[LeBuick]

Oh... I forgot... it isn't about fairness - it's about pay offs for political contributions.

Don't forget, this is a two edged sword. The insurance companies have equally bought the GOP. You have the democrats who owe favors to the unions and the GOP who owe favors to the insurance companies. And some how this combination is supposed to make reform good for the people.

Not sure whose going to win this one but we all know who looses... US.

 

[LeBuick]

Odrama campaigned against McCain accusing him of wanting to tax health benefits. Now Odrama is wanting to do it. Is there and honest bone anywhere in his body?

This isn't true, he didn't say he wants to do it. He said he is open to it if that is what Congress puts on his desk. Obama still wants to tax the rich to pay for health care which is what he said in the campaign.

The more I look at this tax on benefits idea the more I see how bad it is. It would do absolutely nothing to make the industry competitive, bring prices under control or get insurance for the uninsured.

Also, the idea being tossed around in Congress is not what McCain proposed, he wanted to tax all health care benefits. What is being proposed is taxing above a capped level. This means the tax would again, only impact the wealthy with the gold plated health care plans. Us normal folks won't see a change.

 

[OldRegular]

This isn't true, he didn't say he wants to do it. He said he is open to it if that is what Congress puts on his desk. Obama still wants to tax the rich to pay for health care which is what he said in the campaign.

The more I look at this tax on benefits idea the more I see how bad it is. It would do absolutely nothing to make the industry competitive, bring prices under control or get insurance for the uninsured.

Also, the idea being tossed around in Congress is not what McCain proposed, he wanted to tax all health care benefits. What is being proposed is taxing above a capped level. This means the tax would again, only impact the wealthy with the gold plated health care plans. Us normal folks won't see a change.

When are you going to stop trying to cover for the "zero" on this forum?