tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post1031181685445382388..comments2024-03-29T10:24:51.142-04:00Comments on the daily howler: IS IT A TAX: Kathleen Parker watch!<b>bob somerby</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/02963464534685954436noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-10873477218161961832012-07-03T09:24:38.899-04:002012-07-03T09:24:38.899-04:00should be "at stake"should be "at stake"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-47365228848987601172012-07-03T09:23:57.131-04:002012-07-03T09:23:57.131-04:00TDH tends to concern itself with what it thinks is...TDH tends to concern itself with what it thinks is the low-hanging fruit. He doesn't criticize Parker (and a few selected others) because there is anything truly important at state. He criticizes Parker (et al) because it's easy to do so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-3520165152113878372012-07-03T09:18:44.241-04:002012-07-03T09:18:44.241-04:00Hey David. Are "birth control services" ...Hey David. Are "birth control services" covered in Canada? How about Europe? What is the position of the Catholic bishops there? Or do they belong to a different Catholic church?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-60918859833670617872012-07-02T20:17:06.964-04:002012-07-02T20:17:06.964-04:00The argument that "only 1%" of the popul...The argument that "only 1%" of the population will possibly be paying the mandate penalty as if they will be the only ones paying a new "tax" imposed by the PP&ACA disingenuously ignores fact that the act is financed in part by 21 new or higher taxes. Just because you have health insurance doesn't mean your pocketbook won't be affected.<br /><br />http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/30/outlook-more-obamacare-taxes-on-the-way/<br /><br />And the oft repeated claim that the act will "reduce the deficit" is certainly put to rest with the latest CBO report that shows that it will add over a trillion dollars to the deficit over a ten year period. <br /><br />http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/03-13-Coverage%20Estimates.pdfTobyTuckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05598549743757103132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-68883029019058095312012-07-02T18:38:36.022-04:002012-07-02T18:38:36.022-04:00Actually the issue is one of semantics, as Bob not...Actually the issue is one of semantics, as Bob notes.<br /><br />When the ACA was being debated in Congress, the term penalty was settled on so Republicans couldn't accuse Democrats of raising taxes. (They did anyway.)<br /><br />The penalty will be collected by the IRS, which was good enough for John Roberts to call it a tax.<br /><br />I presume the new tax schedules will have a line, "Health Insurance Premiums paid."<br /><br />Persons failing to report or falsely reporting would be subject to sanctions, but so far none so draconian as those imposed for acts of deliberate tax fraud.<br /><br />If the person does not put in an amount paid for insurance, the "tax" will be deducted from his refund. That's the easy part.<br /><br />As for everyone else, we'll have to wait for the laws to be written before we can understand them. Or dispute them.<br /><br />I believe their is some obscure law that says taxes can't be challenged until they are imposed.<br />http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment05/13.html#6gravymeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16075831177588700301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-22049402415471440842012-07-02T16:58:14.446-04:002012-07-02T16:58:14.446-04:00Parker is simply reciting the fall-back conservati...Parker is simply reciting the fall-back conservative storyline on the decision that Sean Hannity was pushing from the day it came out - "Obama lied to us about taxes!"Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-49556455172455700982012-07-02T14:00:44.854-04:002012-07-02T14:00:44.854-04:00This is O.K. but it assumes Parker is some sort o...This is O.K. but it assumes Parker is some sort of credible person in the first place. TDH tends to overrate her.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288008924419574934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-28422637143573551812012-07-02T13:00:24.984-04:002012-07-02T13:00:24.984-04:00As the hairsplitting goes on, I am going to contin...As the hairsplitting goes on, I am going to continue to celebrate one of the biggest progressive victories since Medicare. Anyone want to join me? Or do you want keep arguing over parking tickets?<br /><br />Or perhaps you'd like to continue lamenting all the *lost* progressive opportunities brought about by MoDo and Matthews getting Bush "elected"? (Because, you know, we libs looooove our lost causes. Can't get enough of 'em.)<br /><br />Pass some more Champagne this way.Geoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-11573416354661292572012-07-02T11:56:43.479-04:002012-07-02T11:56:43.479-04:00Every liberal and conservative on the supreme cour...Every liberal and conservative on the supreme court disagrees with you, Anon 11:02. See Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran school vs EEOCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-35242321824013931382012-07-02T11:52:22.424-04:002012-07-02T11:52:22.424-04:00US Conference of Catholic Bishops on ruling
For n...US Conference of Catholic Bishops on ruling<br /><br /><i>For nearly a century, the Catholic bishops of the United States have been and continue to be consistent advocates for comprehensive health care reform to ensure access to life-affirming health care for all, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable.Although the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) did not participate in these cases and took no position on the specific questions presented to the Court, USCCB's position on health care reform generally and on ACA particularly is a matter of public record.The bishops ultimately opposed final passage of ACA for several reasons.<br /><br />First, ACA allows use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions and for plans that cover such abortions, contradicting longstanding federal policy.The risk we identified in this area has already materialized, particularly in the initial approval by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of "high risk" insurance pools that would have covered abortion.<br /><br />Second, the Act fails to include necessary language to provide essential conscience protection, both within and beyond the abortion context.We have provided extensive analyses of ACA's defects with respect to both abortion and conscience.The lack of statutory conscience protections applicable to ACA's new mandates has been illustrated in dramatic fashion by HHS's "preventive services" mandate, which forces religious and other employers to cover sterilization and contraception, including abortifacient drugs.<br /><br />Third, ACA fails to treat immigrant workers and their families fairly.ACA leaves them worse off by not allowing them to purchase health coverage in the new exchanges created under the law, even if they use their own money.This undermines the Act's stated goal of promoting access to basic life-affirming health care for everyone, especially for those most in need.<br /><br />Following enactment of ACA, the U.S. Conference of <b>Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has not joined in efforts to repeal the law in its entirety, and we do not do so today.The decision of the Supreme Court neither diminishes the moral imperative to ensure decent health care for all, nor eliminates the need to correct the fundamental flaws described above.We therefore continue to urge Congress to pass, and the Administration to sign, legislation to fix those flaws.</b></i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-2470911569202519682012-07-02T11:46:32.051-04:002012-07-02T11:46:32.051-04:00Seems to me a reasonable person would conclude tha...Seems to me a reasonable person would conclude that if the result of not buying insurance is a tax then the Anti-Injunction Act would hold sway. But no. Witness this bit of legerdemain:<br /> "(a) The Affordable Care Act describes the “[s]hared responsibility payment” as a “penalty,” not a “tax.” That label is fatal to the application of the Anti-Injunction Act. It does not, however, control whether an exaction is within Congress’s power to tax. In answering that constitutional question, this Court follows a functional approach,<br />“[d]isregarding the designation of the exaction, and viewing its substance and application.” United States v. Constantine, 296 U. S. 287, 294. Pp. 33–35."<br /><br />It's not a tax, but it is a tax, but it's not a tax. Hasn't he read Bill S.DipsoFactonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-83338436512280733352012-07-02T11:02:13.843-04:002012-07-02T11:02:13.843-04:00I don't agree, David in Cal. Most Catholics I...I don't agree, David in Cal. Most Catholics I speak with realize a Catholic BUSINESS is a BUSINESS and not a religious organization, and therefore should play by the same rules that all businesses do.<br />The only Catholics I hear opposing the rules are in the Catholic hierarchy, who are GOP activists.<br />BertoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-516982611923376652012-07-02T09:37:15.396-04:002012-07-02T09:37:15.396-04:00Under current regs, the law forces Catholic organi...Under current regs, the law forces Catholic organizations to provide birth control services to their employees or shut down. I think many Catholics oppose this provision even if they personally use birth control services.David in Calnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-23187251945027775312012-07-02T09:28:57.908-04:002012-07-02T09:28:57.908-04:00She probably confused Catholics with the Catholic ...She probably confused Catholics with the Catholic Church (who, in the U.S, are GOP activists).<br />BertoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com