By Pat Gwaltney
Anderson resident
An open letter to Mayor Kris Ockomon:
I have to address your intent to travel to the offices of our esteemed senators, Lugar and Bayh, so that, in your capacity as the mayor of Anderson, you might lobby in support of the mindless monstrosity known as HR 3692.
I’m writing this letter to ask that you PUBLICLY address some specific points regarding this legislation. Mind you, my request is based on the very loose (and probably ridiculous) assumption that you have actually read this train wreck. After all, we wouldn’t expect our elected representatives to support such a massive undertaking without having full knowledge of its contents (not to mention a full understanding of its consequences) — would we?
I would like you to explain, in explicit detail, how the following elements of this legislation will benefit the residents of Anderson:
The CBO cost score ($1.05 trillion) on this bill was calculated by comparing 10 years of taxation and Medicare cuts against six years of “benefits.” Actual 10-year cost ends up in the neighborhood of $2.4 trillion. Please provide the mathematical formula for that one with your explanation of benefits.
* 2.5 percent excise tax on medical devices – this one is precious by any account, given the continued claim of “lowering costs.”
* 5.4 percent surtax on “higher incomes.” Based on MAGI, and language requiring indexing for inflation refused. Small business takes the biggest hit, and the income threshold goes lower every year.
* 8 percent of payroll tax on employers who cannot or will not provide insurance to employees. Includes language that requires this tax be paid even if an employee refuses employer provided coverage and enrolls in the public exchange. Again, main target seems to be small business.
Creates no fewer than 111 new federal offices (taxpayer funded) with the tens of thousands of fresh new bureaucrats to go with them. For the sake of space, I’ll leave it at this handful for the moment. There are thousands more examples available. Feel free to add your own.
If you do find yourself capable of answering this challenge, please do so in an informed manner by using facts specific to this community.
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