Here are just a few examples.
That much talked about tax on "Cadillac" plans?
According to the Washington Examiner, if you carry a union card, you get a free pass.
Baucus is also weighing a tax based on the value of health care benefits that exceed a yet-to-be determined cap. A tax on benefits that exceed the cap by a mere $3,000 could amount to $750 in taxes annually for a worker who earns as little as $34,000, say experts.
But those union members serving under collective bargaining agreements would not be subjected to the tax, according to proposals under discussion.
Union workers enjoy some of the most extensive and costliest health benefits, and union officials complained their members would be unfairly burdened by a health care tax because their contracts cannot be changed quickly enough to avoid it.
Well you certainly don't want to tick off the unions. Remember what happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
But unions aren't the only ones getting sweetheart deals. It seems some Congressmen have their hand in the till as well.
The Examiner repeats what was reported earlier about Sen. Reid who is hanging on by his fingernails hoping to be re-elected next year. Not only did Harry cut a deal to exempt citizens of Nevada from paying the toll on Medicaid and SCHIP funding for the next 5 years, but others got their share of pork pie as well.
The states (which are already bleeding red ink) will have to pony up a projected $37 billion in new taxes to cover their share of Obamacare. This has riled Democrat and Republican governors alike.
But no fear. Some states will get a free pass at our expense.
Majority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has cut a deal to exempt Nevada from these costs for the next five years. Generous Mr. Reid saw to it that Oregon, Rhode Island and Michigan got the same exclusion, using a formula known only to the Nevada Senator, because "they are suffering more than most."
Oh, come on Harry. Tell us your secret formula.
Health-care "reform" is good, smart and necessary, so long as it isn't fully applied to the states of the senators who are pushing it. The Democrats' growing problem is that somebody is ultimately going to have to pay, and Mr. Reid's bad example has given every one the same idea. "If Colorado has a fair claim on being treated the same way Nevada has been, of course we're going to ask to have that kind of treatment," promised Sen. Mark Udall, upon news of the Reid deal.
Depending on how many votes they have to buy, it might be that no one has to pay. Wouldn't that be nice?
Just more stupid government tricks.
Smaller cars, bigger health insurance, Poppa Washington.
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