Taxes, Taxes, Taxes: Oh the Joys of Government Health Care

Via Memeorandum

Keith Hennessey outlines all the new taxes in  the Reid Senate health care bill.  His analysis is based on a report by the Joint Committee on Taxation analyzing the revenue provisions in the “Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act.”   I wonder if they think inserting the word "affordable" in these 2000 page behemoths will somehow manage to make them so.  There is nothing affordable about new taxes, which is the only way the federal government can raise revenue - unless we decide to do something outlandish like sell cars.  Take a peek at the affordable new taxes imposed for our affordable new health care entitlement:

• 40% excise tax on health coverage in excess of $8,500 (individuals) / $23,000 (families). Amounts are indexed for inflation by CPI-U + 1% – begins in 2013 – $149 B tax increase
• Additional 0.5% Medicare (Hospital Insurance) tax on wages in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers) – begins in 2013 – $54 B tax increase
• Impose annual fee on manufacturers and importers of branded drugs – begins in 2010 – $22 B tax increase
• Impose annual fee on manufacturers and importers of certain medical devices – begins in 2010 – $19 B tax increase
• Impose annual fee on manufacturers and importers of certain medical devices – begins in 2010 – $60 B tax increase
• Cut in half (to $500K) the amount of an executive’s compensation that a health plan can deduct from its corporate income taxes – begins in 2013 – $600 million tax increase
• Impose 5% excise tax on cosmetic surgery and similar procedures – begins for surgery in 2010 – $6 B tax increase!

Keith does a full analysis of each of the proposed taxes so be sure to read his full post.  There are two major tax increase policies in the bill.  The tax on the cadillac plans is still there; it is merely scaled back due to push back from the unions.  To offset the loss in revenue Reid proposes an increase in Medicare payroll taxes, leaving Reid in the position of defending two major tax increases.  Anyone still want to argue the influence of unions on the Democratic party is not a problem?

The Medicare payroll tax increase proposal is a game changer, essentially creating unprecedented changes in how our government is financed.  The bill would use Medicare payroll taxes to finance a new entitlement.  This would permit use of payroll taxes normally entirely devoted to Medicare to be used where the government sees fit.  This was a "slippery slope" Hennessey found particularly shocking for a Democratic leader to propose.  In the end Hennessey thinks this may be a huge risk for moderate Democrats

Ed Morrissey is not sure it's a big enough risk for moderates who will be under tremendous pressure from an Obama administration desperate to pass something, anything really called health care reform:

Is it as big of a risk for moderates as failing to pass a bill will be for Obama and the progressives?  That’s the big question.  Will people get angry enough over a new government entitlement that purports to solve a real issue for many Americans — the increasing cost of health care?  Never mind, for the moment, that it doesn’t actually solve that problem, but makes it worse.  Most won’t see that until 2013 at the earliest, by which point it will be far too late.

Ironically, there are a few taxes proposed taking aim at the health care industry gullible enough to play along with this administration.  Pharmaceuticals get a new tax on the revenue they will generate because the government will spend more on health care.  Health Plan executives are targeted for limits on their executive compensation.  Hennessey wonders who is next:

It’s terrible policy to single out the compensation of any particular industry.  Wall Street – if this becomes law, you’re next in the crosshairs.

This is gratuitous political punishment of an unpopular constituency.  The section is titled “Limitation on excessive remuneration paid by certain health insurance providers.”  It raises $600 M over 10 years, and is thus insignificant as a pay-for.

How’s that political alliance working out for you guys?

Last but not least comes the cosmetic surgery tax.  How ironic that the only aspect of the health care industry to actually contain costs and lower prices over the years gets a tax penalty for their efforts.  Government involvement in health care, what's not to love?  I am somewhat heartened that the tax would seemingly apply to teeth whitening purely for  a told ya moment with my own dentist who is a liberal but makes a living on cosmetic dentistry.  I think I might actually enjoy pointing out this little tax on my next visit.

Matalin and Althouse on "Going Rogue"

Via Memeorandum

Mary Matalin offers a unique perspective on the good, bad and the frequently ugly nature of political campaigns as she reviews "Going Rogue."  Matalin straddles some difficult lines between her friendship with Steve Schmidt and Nicole Wallace to her support for Palin the candidate and conservative.   To a degree, Matalin serves as something of a marriage counselor who is able to see both sides of that political bridge, which for better or for worse is not just burnt but "napalmed ."

Matalin thinks Palin would have been better served by having written a different book, one that looks forward rather than back.  Perhaps her friendship with Schmidt and Wallace influences this opinion to a degree.  Still, Matalin sees Palin better served in venues like her interview with Rush Limbaugh when she is off the media machine message on her own. It's an interesting thought and one worth considering.    Matalin's bottom line:

Bottom line: The book is a good read, an unusually detailed front-row seat view to how strained campaigns always are, and a compelling insight into Palin's perspective. Its long-term publishing and political impact are unknown for now, though as Palin moves out of the mainstream media monster publicity machine and into more hospitable, relevant political terrain, the prospects for success on both fronts improve exponentially.

But its impact on personal and professional relationships is a sad one indeed and one I hope conservatives don't let it divide us just when we are marching toward a promising midterm, which reflects an ascendant common-sense conservatism and requires all the good guys in the foxhole together.

Meanwhile Ann Althouse thinks a different book must surely already be in the works:

When reviewing a book, you should ask whether the book achieves what it set out to do. Dreher posits some goal other than the one Palin chose and slams her for not meeting it. She chose to write a personal memoir: What life feels like for Sarah Palin. So it's her "Dreams From My Father." The book Dreher aches for would be her "Audacity of Hope." Presumably, she is — her people are — working on that second book, and it will be fully fleshed out with exactly the conservative policy details that Sarah Palin needs for a presidential run.

Please read both posts, they are surprising.  Any bets on when the Palin "Audacity of Hope" hits the shelves?

On Dim-Witted Boys With Palin Obsessions

Via Memeorandum

There are a few things you can count on in life these days. If there is a foreign leader in the vicinity Obama will bow.  If a couple billion borrowed dollars have been spent some Obama bean counter will pretend a job was "created or saved,"  If Sarah Palin is in the news someone will stick a microphone in front of Levi Johnston's face and ask for a comment. With the release of Sarah Palin's book, the clock was ticking for the man-child who impregnated her daughter to make an asinine comment that would garner more attention in the headline news. It didn't take long:

Johnston: I just look at her in disgust. ... It's almost funny, that she's like, 46 years old, and she's battling a 19 year old, and I'm winning. And I'm telling the truth. She's lying and losing. ... If you look at her face, she's got -- she's really -- you can tell her mind's going 100 miles an hour when Oprah asked her those Levi questions. ... I've got a lot more knowledge and credibility than she gives me credit for.

I have mentioned here before that as a mother of a nineteen year old daughter, this guy is about my worst nightmare. As the mother of a 15 year old boy I can swear absolutely a van full of pubescent boys, laughing themselves silly over fart jokes, will not collectively say anything as juvenile as Johnston's statement here. The lone boy who might be the exception is the one who hasn't an ounce of decency or integrity.  When these miscreants get older they make ludicrous statements. and pretend they are really analyzing the news:

You know what: he's right. And in this war of nerves, he is the one not blinking.

This war of nerves?  Seriously?  What kind of journalist spends their time wondering whether this dim-witted boy from Wasilla is blinking?  I bet most of you don't even need to click the link to know the answer.

Syrtaki - Zorba's Dance

A little mood music for my daughter who is studying Greek in college. The Syrtaki dance steps look like they aren't overly difficult but may require practice. Fortunately the dance starts out rather slowly and repeats as it gradually builds to a faster pace.



Here is a digital version of the Syrtaki, which is pretty funny too:

Rush Interviews Sarah Palin

While the Barbara Walters and Oprah interviews focus on Palin persona, Rush focuses on Palin the political powerhouse. The interview touches on many policy issues including the economy, unemployment, foreign policy including Iran and Afghanistan with some clarification on the issue of illegal immigration as well. The highlight seems to be her declaration that America is not quite ready for a third party:

You know, to be brutally honest, I think that it's a bit naive when you talk about the pragmatism that has to be applied in America's political system. And we are a two-party system. Ideally, sure, a third party or an independent party would be able to soar and thrive and put candidates forth and have them elected, but I don't think America is ready for that. I think that it is... Granted it's quite conventional and traditional, but in a good way that we have our two parties, and I think that that's what will remain.

It looks as though there won't be a third party run for Sarah in the future.

The Lefties are taking note of the number of times Palin uses the term commonsense:

If you're keeping score at home, that's eleven "commonsense"s in an interview than runs about 3,400 words.

Well, we've always known this about Palin -- she absorbs catchphrases rather than ideas, and then she runs those catchphrases into the ground. (Remember "hungry markets"?)

George W. Bush also glommed onto simple words and phrases -- you know, like "freedom." But at least that was aspirational. Freedom! What did it mean to be a champion of freedom? It was a worthy goal, even if the execution was abysmal.

Are we to presume "hope" and "change" are aspirational catchphrases. What does it mean to be a champion of hope, we've not seen very much of it coming from this administration. We certainly have seen very little commonsense.

Part I



Part II

Rush has a thread at Memeorandum
Transcript at RushLimbaugh.com

The Onion: Obama's Home Teleprompter on the Fritz

H/T: Memeorandum
The Onion has a spot on take on the Communicator in Chief, Barack Obama, who finds himself at a loss when his home teleprompter goes on the fritz. This is proof Obama is treasure trove of comedy gold if only the comedy writers would take off their rose colored glasses.



Obama's Home Teleprompter Malfunctions During Family Dinner

Preview Barbara Walters Interview with Sarah Palin - UPDATED

Via ABC News  Here is a sneak peek at the Barbara Walters Interview with Sarah Palin.  I think we can rule out the Sarah Palin talk show after hearing her answer on this question.  Barbara is fairly complimentary about her in the segment at the end:

Update: 2nd preview has Palin commenting on Barack Obama who she rates a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. Palin also comments on the Newsweek cover. Barbara focuses on Palin's family, Trig's birth and Bristol's pregnancy on this as well.

Obama Mao Banned T Shirt

The banned Obama Mao t-shirt, which has been officially inducted into the Obama Kitsch Guide, caused a CNN reporter to be detained for hours by market security and Chinese police.  Emily Chang, a Beijing-based reporter, blogged about the incident after she hunted down the shirt that was reportedly banned amidst fears it would offend Obama:

Chang said she held the shirt up to the camera while filming a story in a Shanghai market.

"Two security guards happened to pass by at the moment I announced to the camera: 'This is the T-shirt everybody is talking about,'" she said.

"And that was it. They scrambled towards us and tried to pry the shirt out of my hands," Chang said. "I didn't give in.

They wanted the shirt and who can blame them?  It is obviously now greatly increased in value since its' inclusion in the "Official Obama Kitsch Guide."  Hey, it's a very classy publication.  So desperate were the Chinese officials to confiscate the banned shirt they called for reinforcements:

"We ended up being detained for two hours in the cold, maze of a market," she said. "A crowd gathered round. More security and then police showed up."They wanted our press cards, our passports, but most of all, they wanted the shirt," she said. "Finally, they let us go. Phew!"

Phew indeed.  The best news is Chang was able to keep the valuable shirt:

Chang refused to surrender the offending shirt and joked that a number of jealous White House and CNN colleagues had tried to "bribe" her for it.

I guess we know what fashionable White House staffers will be wearing this holiday season.  Or not...