House Starts Health Care Debate on Capital Hill

In the latest attempt of government takeover of the private sector, House Democrats started the health care debate on Capital Hill this morning. In what will undoubtedly be labeled as historic, President Obama will make an appearance at the end of the debate to emphasize the importance of passing this radical bill, which will cut Medicare spending by $500 billion and cost Americans $1.2 trillion over the next ten years.

It's nice to know that Obama thinks the health care issue is more important than the troops in Afghanistan. There's nothing historic about attempting to ram through a bill harder than anything Ron Jeremy has before. Princess Pelosi's bill will nationalize the best health care system in the world. Ignoring the cost, the real motive is power and control that the radical left seeks of America's freedoms. When broken down, the bill includes some radical provisions that should make anyone wonder if this is America or Soviet Russia. However, there isn't any mention whether Pelosi's botox treatments will be covered in the bill.

Ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R - MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that a failure to comply with individual mandates to buy health insurance contained in Princess Pelosi's health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could put people in jail. The JCT letter makes it clear that Americans who do not maintain "acceptable health insurance coverage" and who choose not to pay the bill's new individual mandate tax (around 2.5% of income) are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties. This includes criminal fines up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years. Camp responded to the JCT letter saying:

"This is the ultimate example of Democrats' command-and-control style of governing - buy what we tell you or go to jail. It is outrageous and it should be stopped immediately."

Here are some key excerpts from the JCT letter:

"H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax." [page 1]

"If the government determines that the taxpayer's unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply..." [page 2]

"Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

Section 7203 - misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

Section 7201 - felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years." [page 3]

Brace yourself, America. This extreme takeover of the the health care industry will be historic. Not because of radical Obama's stuttering uh um uh presence at Capital Hill, but because America's freedoms and liberties are being taken away right before our very eyes, unconstitutionally.