Taxing Workplace Benefits

From a letter sent on May 21, 2009.

Congress is considering paying for their health care proposal by taxing the health care benefits that we receive at our workplace as income. This is nothing but another tax hike on the middle class. What happened to 95% of people will have their taxes lowered? You aren't raising our tax rate, but raising the amount of income that is being taxed. We aren't suppose to realize this is a tax increase!!

When John McCain suggested taxing health care benefits and giving each family a $5000. tax credit, Democrats crucified him. Now Congress thinks this is a really good idea - without the tax credit. What hypocrisy! Middle class taxes are already too high. We are struggling here in the real world. Now Congress wants to raise middle class taxes to finance a program we do not want. A program that will bankrupt this country - like it did European countries - and deliver inferior health care. It is my belief that the federal government doesn't just want to provide health care for the approximately 16% of people who do not have it. I believe it wants to force the 84% out of their better private plans by making those plans unaffordable.

Last week the President stated that with the new health care plan businesses could use the money that they saved by not providing health care in a better manner. That is the ultimate plan. Socialized health care for all - with health care rationing and the government determining what treatment is "cost effective" (read stimulus bill) and therefore allowable. Why does Congress seek to throw away the best health care system in the world for an inferior plan?