Americans for Tax Reform will be key-voting all the anticipated remaining votes on the Senate healthcare bill. This includes all cloture votes, as well as a potential vote on final passage. ATR will score negatively a vote that cuts off debate on this bill, and will score negatively a vote in favor of this bill’s passage.
Assuming the Obama-Reid health bill as modified contains the same tax language as the original version, there are 18 separate tax increases totaling $858 billion over the next decade. There will be tax increases on those failing to get “qualifying health insurance,” employers not offering insurance, comprehensive insurance plans, wages, medical device manufacturers, and anyone with a health account like an FSA or HSA. Many of these tax hikes fall directly on households making less than $250,000 per year, in total violation of President Obama’s oft-repeated campaign promise not to raise “any form” of taxes on these families and small businesses.
In a time of deep recession, the economy cannot afford the new tax increases in this bill. It should be vigorously opposed for this and many other reasons.