Obamacare by the numbers

Americans for Tax Reform today released the following “By the Numbers” breakdown of ObamaCare:

The number of new tax increases in the healthcare bill: 19

The number of tax increases that unquestionably violate President Obama’s “firm pledge” not to raise “any form” of taxes on families making less than $250,000: 7

The tax increase over the first decade if the healthcare bill becomes law: $497 billion

The top federal tax rate on wages and self-employment earnings under this bill: 43.4%

The annual tax hike for every man, woman, and child in America: $165

The top federal tax rate on early distributions from HSAs under this bill: 59.6%

The most parents of special-needs kids can save tax-free for tuition in FSAs (currently, the amount is unlimited): $2500 (Read more from atr.org)

IRS to enforce new Healthcare Legislation

Trojan Healthcare

16,500 more IRS agents needed to enforce Obamacare

J.P. Freire
Washington Examiner
March 21, 2010

New tax mandates and penalties included in Obamacare will cause the greatest expansion of the Internal Revenue Service since World War II, according to a release from Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.

A new analysis by the Joint Economic Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee minority staff estimates up to 16,500 new IRS personnel will be needed to collect, examine and audit new tax information mandated on families and small businesses in the ‘reconciliation’ bill being taken up by the U.S. House of Representatives this weekend. …

Scores of new federal mandates and fifteen different tax increases totaling $400 billion are imposed under the Democratic House bill. In addition to more complicated tax returns, families and small businesses will be forced to reveal further tax information to the IRS, provide proof of ‘government approved’ health care and submit detailed sales information to comply with new excise taxes.

Americans for Tax Reform has a good breakdown of the bill by the numbers. (Read more from prisonplanet.com)

Congressional Staff Exempt from Health Care Reform Mandates

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised that we would find out what is in the health care reform bill after it passed. And, true to her promise, certain provisions are now coming
to light, including one that exempts certain Congressional staff.

According to the Hotline, Congressional staff who work for committees or leadership offices are specifically exempt from the mandates imposed by health care reform to enroll in government provided health care reform plans.

“The loophole for leadership staffers could impact thousands of Hill employees. There are 16 active leadership offices in the House and 26 in the Senate, according to the government transparency website LegiStorm. Some are small, with just a few employees. Others are much larger; Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid 54 employees a total of $1.1M in the last quarter of ’09, while House Min. Leader John Boehner paid his 26 staffers a total of $721K in the same quarter.

“Leaving out committee staffers means aides at the 24 standing House committees and the 20 Senate panels will each be exempted as well, if CRS’s interpretation of the measure stands.” (Read more from associatedcontent.com)

Obama, Israel discuss ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy on East Jerusalem Settlements

After last week’s announced settlement expansion effectively torpedoed the indirect peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli government is will to do almost anything to build “trust,” so long as it doesn’t involve the only thing the PA actually wants, abandoning that settlement expansion.

Now, Israel has reportedly reached an agreement with the Obama Administration on something called a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. In short, Israel would continue to expand settlements in occupied East Jerusalem with impunity, but they wouldn’t make a big deal of announcing those expansions in the press. (Read more from antiwar.com)

ADL: General Petraeus wrong to link anti-U.S. attitude to Mideast peace

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) criticized as “dangerous and counterproductive” the Senate testimony of General David Petraeus in which he blamed “insufficient progress” in resolving the ongoing Israeli-Arab conflict as a significant impediment to achieving U.S. goals in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Iran, and for encouraging “anti-American sentiment.”

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement in response to the general’s March 16 testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee:

“The assumptions Gen. Petraeus presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee wrongly attribute ‘insufficient progress’ in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and ‘a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel’ as significantly impeding the U.S. military mission in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and in dealing with the Iranian influences in the region. It is that much more of a concern to hear this coming from such a great American patriot and hero.” (Read more from Haaretz.com)

The Muslim world hates us because they are evil radicals. Any suggestion otherwise will not be tolerated.

As Netanyahu arrives is Washington Israel approves ANOTHER new building in east Jerusalem

The Jerusalem municipality has approved 20 new apartments for Jews in an Arab neighborhood of east Jerusalem, the city said Wednesday, in a move that could stir a new diplomatic crisis with the United States just as Israel’s leader is in Washington on a fence-mending visit. (Read more from news.yahoo.com)

Remember, the Muslim world hates us because they are crazy, evil radicals.

Virginia Introduces $3550 Speeding Ticket

EDIT: This law was repealed.

Repealed by Acts 2008, cc. 656 and 657, cl. 1, effective March 27, 2008. (source)

Thanks, Elizabeth.

Virginia motorists convicted of minor traffic violations will face a new, multi-year tax beginning July 1. Led by state Delegate David B. Albo (R-Springfield), lawmakers slipped a driver responsibility tax into a larger transportation funding bill signed by Governor Tim Kaine (D) in April. Albo, a senior partner in the Albo & Oblon, LLP traffic law firm, can expect to see a significant increase in business as motorists seek to protect their wallet from traffic tickets that come with assessments of up to $3000 in addition to an annual point tax that tops out at $700 a year for as long as the points remain.

“The purpose of the civil remedial fees imposed in this section is to generate revenue,” the new law states. (Virginia Code 46.2-206.1)

Driving as little as 15 MPH over the limit on an interstate highway now brings six license demerit points, a fine of up to $2500, up to one year in jail, and a new mandatory $1050 tax. (Read more from thenewspaper.com)

The crooks are in charge.

St. Louis Fed president: Recovery is on Track

The U.S. economic recovery is on track and labor data should look better in March and beyond, but more bank failures will occur this year than in 2009, said James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

“The situation is improving,” Mr. Bullard said in an interview Monday, adding that “the recovery is on track.” Household spending is looking better, and business investment is picking up, he added.

IRS visits Sacramento carwash in pursuit of 4 cents

Arriving at Harv’s Metro Car Wash in midtown Wednesday afternoon were two dark-suited IRS agents demanding payment of delinquent taxes. “They were deadly serious, very aggressive, very condescending,” says Harv’s owner, Aaron Zeff.

The really odd part of this: The letter that was hand-delivered to Zeff’s on-site manager showed the amount of money owed to the feds was … 4 cents.

Inexplicably, penalties and taxes accruing on the debt – stemming from the 2006 tax year – were listed as $202.31, leaving Harv’s with an obligation of $202.35. (Read more from sacbee.com)

Health stocks outpace market after reform passes

The S&P Health Care Sector index .GSPA opened about 0.8 percent higher, outpacing the broader market, after the House of Representatives gave final approval to a sweeping overhaul late on Sunday night. (Read more from Reuters.com)

Many of my so called Liberal friends adopted the narrative that this legislation was a courageous stand by brave Democrats against the evil, greedy insurance companies. In fact, this legislation further entrenches the established insurance companies.