Obama: Health Mandate Not a Tax Increase

In Sunday TV Blitz, President Says Health Efforts Will Make Insurance Cheaper, Not Raise the Burden on Middle Class

(AP)  President Barack Obama says requiring people to get health insurance and fining them if they don't would not amount to a backhanded tax increase. "I absolutely reject that notion," the president said.

Blanketing most of the Sunday TV news shows, Obama defended his proposed health care overhaul, including a key point of the various health care bills on Capitol Hill: mandating that people get health insurance to share the cost burden fairly among all. Those who failed to get coverage would face financial penalties.

Obama said other elements of the plan would make insurance affordable for people, from a new comparison-shopping "exchange" to tax credits.

Telling people to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase, Obama told ABC's "This Week."

"What it's saying is, is that we're not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore," said Obama. "Right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase."

Obama faces an enormous political and communications challenge in selling his health care plan as Congress debates how to pay for it all.

He told CBS' "Face the Nation" that he will keep his pledge not to raise taxes on families earning up to $250,000, and that much of the final bill - hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years - can be achieved from savings within the current system. Coming up with the rest remains a key legislative obstacle.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said there is no way Obama can achieve his goals without raising taxes.

"He has to. How else do you pay for it?" he told CBS.

Obama put his support behind the idea of taxing employers that offer high-cost insurance plans.

"I do think that giving a disincentive to insurance companies to offer Cadillac plans that don't make people healthier is part of the way that we're going to bring down health care costs for everybody over the long term," Obama said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Obama's network interviews were taped Friday at the White House. He became the first president to appear on five Sunday network shows in the same morning, an extraordinary effort to build public support for his top domestic priority.

The goal is to expand and improve health insurance coverage and rein in long-term costs.

Yet despite so many weeks of speeches, town halls and interviews, Obama said he has found it difficult at times to make a complex topic clear and relevant.

"I've tried to keep it digestible," Obama said. "It's very hard for people to get their arms around it. And that's been a case where I have been humbled and I just keep on trying harder."

Obama told Univision's "Al Punto" ("To the Point") that the strong opposition to his plan is part of a political strategy.

"Well, part of it is ... that the opposition has made a decision," he said. "They are just not going to support anything, for political reasons."

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Obama doesn't understand Republicans' opposition.

"I don't know anybody in my Republican conference in the Senate who's in favor of doing nothing on health care," McConnell said. "We obviously have a cost problem and we have an access problem."

But he told CNN's "State of the Union" that the Democrats' plan is simply too rushed.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Obama has ignored grave concerns over his plan and his media blitz won't change that.

"The president is selling something that people, quite frankly, are not buying," Graham told NBC's "Meet the Press."

"He's been on everything but the Food Channel," he added.

[gboyd41]

This is splitting hairs. No matter what you call it, this is added $ that go into the Feds pocket, making it more of a dominant force day by day. Get ready for a limited state govt., and a much more powerful,"share the wealth govt." Problem is, if more people are on the "hands out list", those people paying for it just may decide on that"option".

[quapawsix]

Even with lipstick on it's still a pig. What happens to the people who really can't afford health care the choice between eating or paying the heating bill or an Insurance premium or the fine this administrations is talking about. And the Insurance companies only care about the bottom line and are not your friend.

[rhs648]

endurorob_4 - You may be asking too much of people. Too many people want the government to take care of them from cradle to death. This doesn't just apply to poor people. It applies to many people with high paying jobs as well. Many people have become spoiled by jobs that provide an abundance of benefits. My brother-in-law retired two years ago from a quasi-government position. He told me he is already receiving more in his pension than when he was working two years ago. When he was working, he still had a $5.00 co-payment on prescriptions and doctor visits by being grandfathered into an older health insurance plan paid for by his employer. Get the gist?

[mary-miami]

Yes...increase taxes on all making more than $200,000. a year...The Bush republicans gave too much favoritism to the rich and too many priviledges...There are millions of Americans without healthcare. It is a basic human right to be able to go to a doctor if needed, and that goes for dentist and optometrist, as well. We should have a national election and ask the American people, Yes or No, do you want free healthcare. This is a country, for the people, by the people...Most likely the majority will elect to have free healthcare.

[jsd330]

mary-miami Where does it say in any of the proposed bills anything about free health care?

[hungry1968-16]

by brian1920 September 20, 2009 7:46 PM EDT
Obama is lying yet again. He is now going to break his pledge of no new taxes on anybody making less than $250K. I am so sick of his deceptions, lies and speeches.






Yet ANOTHER one....

"Obama is going to......"

Nothing factual, just speculation and rumor mongering.

[hungry1968-16]

by hungry1968-16 September 21, 2009 9:58 AM EDT
by hungry1968-16 September 21, 2009 9:26 AM EDT

Now back to the ORIGINAL question: if the republicans REALLY believe that health care needs to be reformed, then WHY didn't they do something about it from 2001 - 2007, while they had control of the congress, senate, and the White House?







I'm STILL waiting ffoulkes-2009.

You can answer ANYTIME now.

Go ahead.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Your ORIGINAL question was answered. Your alternate question here doesn't deserve an answer as you will be just as dishonest with your response to it as you are to everything else.

[hungry1968-16]

by ffoulkes-2009 September 21, 2009 10:19 AM EDT
Actually, 1 year ago is before the crap hit the fan and the economy started to tank...thanks to the new dems in congress. The Bush years saw some of the greatest economic times ever, and it is overshadowed by stupidity on the consumer's and banker's parts.

You can't erase the good just to smear the bad.






The economic gains under Bush, were ALL built on false pretenses and scams. Those "greatest economic times ever" were built on AIG's "credit default swaps", and the housing market disaster caused by the republicans deregulation of 2000, and their ignoring their oversight responsibilities from 2002 - 2007 when all of those scams took place.


But do tell us, WHAT did the democrats do in 2007, that caused the market to crash?

And since it was the SCAMS of the early 2000's that blew up our economy in 2007 and 2008, perhaps you can tell us how the democrats time traveled back to 2002 and allowed that to happen "BEFORE their watch".

[ffoulkes-2009]

His gains were built on the SAME false pretenses and scams Clinton's were. The deregulation of 2000 was Clinton's. Come on, you gotta do better than that. Bush brought us out of another recession before this one ever hit.

[hungry1968-16]

by credibility2 September 21, 2009 10:05 AM EDT
..."read my lips, no new taxes..." Another fabrication and lie from the mouth of the president. The president's programs will cost the middle class more in order to support all of these giveaways in the form of higher taxes. Anyone who believes otherwise isn't very familiar with the way politicians, regardless of party affiiliation, operate.






Yet another one....

"Obama's plan is GOING TO....."

Nothing but speculation and guessing.

Nothing factual or concrete to base this comment on, but that doesn't stop him from posting.

When are you conservatives going to READ THE BILL, and post on what's actually in it, instead of predicting "worst case scenarios" based on Fox News inspired lies and rumors?

[hungry1968-16]

by ffoulkes-2009 September 21, 2009 10:06 AM EDT
You do love jumping to the past, don't you. The present is much too painful for you, isn't it?






How does my comment about Rowdy's speculation about the future, translate into a post about the here and now?

BTW, the here and now is 100 times better than one year ago.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Actually, 1 year ago is before the crap hit the fan and the economy started to tank...thanks to the new dems in congress. The Bush years saw some of the greatest economic times ever, and it is overshadowed by stupidity on the consumer's and banker's parts.

You can't erase the good just to smear the bad.

[credibility2]

..."read my lips, no new taxes..." Another fabrication and lie from the mouth of the president. The president's programs will cost the middle class more in order to support all of these giveaways in the form of higher taxes. Anyone who believes otherwise isn't very familiar with the way politicians, regardless of party affiiliation, operate.

[hungry1968-16]

by hungry1968-16 September 21, 2009 9:26 AM EDT

Now back to the ORIGINAL question: if the republicans REALLY believe that health care needs to be reformed, then WHY didn't they do something about it from 2001 - 2007, while they had control of the congress, senate, and the White House?







I'm STILL waiting ffoulkes-2009.

You can answer ANYTIME now.

Go ahead.

[hungry1968-16]

by ffoulkes-2009 September 21, 2009 9:17 AM EDT
Your ability to selectively read then spin anything put in front of you never ceases to amaze me...Great Job!







What am I "spinning"?

The Bush plan was for people UNDER the federal poverty level. It gave UP TO a $3,000 tax credit, off of your FIRST $15,000 of income, to be able to purchase a health insurance policy, that at the time cost OVER $10,000 per year.

What part of that to you disagree with?

What part isn't true?




Now back to the ORIGINAL question: if the republicans REALLY believe that health care needs to be reformed, then WHY didn't they do something about it from 2001 - 2007, while they had control of the congress, senate, and the White House?

[alanrobisch]

Hungry. My question is so what. It seems they had different priorities like a war in Iraq and 9/11. Also reform they want like tort reform was attempted by the Gingrich congress. It got nowhere. I guess you also forgot the addition of prescription drug plan to Medicare. Gee I guess they did take action that was bipartisan. It seems the president despite his constant call for bi-partisanship still wants a huge overhaul with the govt having even greater involvement in deciding what care we can get, This isn't a republican or conservative view.

In any case its water over the dam. Obama wants large changes that does not have across the board support and from what I see as much as people want health insurance reform they don't want what he is selling. I suggest you read the Charles Krauthammer's column today which points out the deceptive advertising that was included in Obama's Health care address. As he points out the president didn't lie but if he was an advertiser he might be called up for deceptive promises

[ffoulkes-2009]

Your ability to selectively read then spin anything put in front of you never ceases to amaze me...Great Job!

'Bush also held closed-door talks with state officials on his plan that calls for tax reforms to make private health insurance more affordable and to level the playing field so those who buy health insurance on their own get the same tax advantage as those who get health insurance through their jobs.'

'Similarly, the plan calls for creating Association Health Plans, in which small businesses or community groups could band together to qualify for insurance premium discounts.'

'To create a standard tax deduction for the purchase of health insurance, and
To implement the "Affordable Choices Initiative", which will direct federal funding to state initiatives designed to help poor and sick individuals obtain insurance in the private market.'

[ffoulkes-2009]

BTW...Dems had Congress at that time. Quit trying to blame everything on the Republicans.

[hungry1968-16]

by ffoulkes-2009 September 21, 2009 9:00 AM EDT

You may have heard President Bush propose a plan to reform our healthcare system during his State of the Union address. The goal of this plan is to increase the number of Americans with private healthcare coverage.
The plan has two components:

To create a standard tax deduction for the purchase of health insurance, and
To implement the "Affordable Choices Initiative", which will direct federal funding to state initiatives designed to help poor and sick individuals obtain insurance in the private market.







Right. Bush's plan was to give a $3,000 tax credit to a family making LESS than $20,560 PER YEAR (federal poverty level), so that they could buy a "health insurance policy" that (at the time) cost over $10,000 annually.

And as ridiculous and useless as THAT stupid plan was, the republicans in congress and the senate wouldn't even discuss it, and killed any and all discussion regarding the matter.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Your dishonesty quite frankly is expected at this point.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Press International
February 22, 2007

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush visited a hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., Wednesday to push his proposed package of reforms for more affordable health insurance.

Bush also held closed-door talks with state officials on his plan that calls for tax reforms to make private health insurance more affordable and to level the playing field so those who buy health insurance on their own get the same tax advantage as those who get health insurance through their jobs.

After returning to the White House Bush, in a statement, referred back to last month's State of the Union address in which he called for Congress to work in a bipartisan way to "to make sure that health care is accessible and affordable for as many Americans as is possible."

Among his other initiatives is the creation of Health Savings Accounts to save for healthcare tax-free, and which are portable from job to job.

Similarly, the plan calls for creating Association Health Plans, in which small businesses or community groups could band together to qualify for insurance premium discounts.

---------------------------------------------------
President Bush's Healthcare Reform Proposal
From Kelly Montgomery, for About.com
Created: January 25, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

What is Bush's plan for reforming healthcare?
You may have heard President Bush propose a plan to reform our healthcare system during his State of the Union address. The goal of this plan is to increase the number of Americans with private healthcare coverage.
The plan has two components:

To create a standard tax deduction for the purchase of health insurance, and
To implement the "Affordable Choices Initiative", which will direct federal funding to state initiatives designed to help poor and sick individuals obtain insurance in the private market.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Let's see...who would have been the ones to block this one? Oh, yes...the Dem Congress.

[hungry1968-16]

by ffoulkes-2009 September 21, 2009 8:43 AM EDT
Things not done properly in the past don't excuse things done ridiculously incorrectly in the present or future. Yes, Bush spent a bunch of money...Obama wants to spend more...Is one more right than the other when they both will contribute to the same mess?







I'm not talking about Bush pisssing away $5 TRILLION, and leaving us with nothing to show for it. (Though you do make a good point, that conservatives SHOULD NOT be trusted with ANYTHING related to money, finances, or the economy.)

MY POINT is that the conservatives did NOTHING to reform our woefully broken health care system, and in fact they didn't even want to DISCUSS IT, all while CLAIMING that they're all for reforming health care, they agree that it's broke and that it needs to be fixed, they agree that it costs too much, they agree that SOMETHING must be done, etc, etc, etc.

If they REALLY wanted to reform health care, then WHY didn't they do something about it from 2001 - 2007?

[hungry1968-16]

"I don't know anybody in my Republican conference in the Senate who's in favor of doing nothing on health care," McConnell said. "We obviously have a cost problem and we have an access problem."







And exactly WHAT did you republicans do about spiraling out of control health care costs while you had majorities in congress and the senate, and held the White House?

Not only did you NOT do ANYTHING, there wasn't even a DISCUSSION about it!!

[ffoulkes-2009]

Things not done properly in the past don't excuse things done ridiculously incorrectly in the present or future. Yes, Bush spent a bunch of money...Obama wants to spend more...Is one more right than the other when they both will contribute to the same mess?

[courgl]

If there is so much waste in current government programs, why don't they fix that problem first, before adding a new program?

You don't add more passengers to a sinking ship. You plug the leak first.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Simple...that would not add enough new red tape and waste to the bureaucracy.

[skyk-2009]

courgl, tell you what. How about we just stop Medicare and switch all that coverage to Private Insurance and they can just send the Tax Payers the bill. LOL You want to see REAL cost increase and REAL anger from seniors? THAT will give you some SERIOUS cost INCREASES and some SERIOUS Anger. LOL Medicare is a very good program and has help MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of American's obtain Health Care. It has also saved the Tax Payers untold TRILLIONS of dollars in that NO private insurance can provide that care for the amount alloted to Medicare. Now IF you fringe freaks want to try and turn that into a PRIVATE Plan, good luck... on BOTH fronts.

[ahrats]

The U.S. government wants to make SLAVES of the american people to Insuracnce Companies & Doctors. I guess insurace co.'s helped found the country so they should have the right to make the people pay them.
Health insurance it's about whether you get sick or not you pay either way but if your healthy you do not get the money back. I will not be a SLAVE to any company or government.

[Orlandojon]

If it quacks like a duck...