"Administration officials meeting with lobbyists..projected that a benefit cap would save $35bln/yr"

brentspeak

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Wed Jun-03-09 10:26 AM
Original message

"Administration officials meeting with lobbyists..projected that a benefit cap would save $35bln/yr"

Edited on Wed Jun-03-09 10:27 AM by brentspeak

The administration. Meeting with lobbyists. Benefit caps.

"Change"

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/06/02/obama_health_overhaul_necessar.html?wprss=44

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endarkenment

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Wed Jun-03-09 10:40 AM
Response to Original message

1. sick feeling in pit of stomach... nt

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Occam Bandage

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Wed Jun-03-09 10:52 AM
Response to Original message

2. Why would lobbyists want a benefit cap?

Edited on Wed Jun-03-09 10:53 AM by Occam Bandage

It's not as if he's considering literally capping benefits. The very next sentence in the article says, "Experts have outlined two likely approaches: taxing health benefits for workers above a certain income level; or taxing benefits over a certain value, perhaps $14,000 a year." Neither would decrease the amount of health-care services insurance companies would provide.

I'm against it because it would break two of his campaign promises (not to tax benefits and not to raise taxes on those making under 250k), but this isn't a lobbyist giveaway or anything. This is a desperate attempt to pay for a public option.

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vaberella

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Wed Jun-03-09 10:54 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. You're reasoning may be lost in this thread considering past posts..

Edited on Wed Jun-03-09 10:55 AM by vaberella

But I agree with you. On another note I do think Obama is appeasing the lobbyist, however he has said in the past and stays true that he doesn't answer to lobbyists.

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napi21

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Wed Jun-03-09 10:56 AM
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4. Why are you so upset by that? I can only speak for 3 companies

as far as cost per employee goes, but the most expensive of the three was paying $835/mo. or$10,020/yr and the least expensive was $645/mo. or $7,740/yr.
In the article you referenced, they were talking about taxing benefits over $14,000. The way I read that, it's also to help stop companies from giving extrordinary benefits to their already overpaid execs.

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Occam Bandage

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Wed Jun-03-09 10:57 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. I think he's upset by literally every news story with the word "Obama" in it. nt

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redqueen

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Wed Jun-03-09 11:22 AM
Response to Original message

6. Context. Helpful. Read.

Edited on Wed Jun-03-09 11:23 AM by redqueen

"The president made it clear during the campaign that he has serious concerns about taxing health-care benefits, and he has introduced his own revenue proposal, which he reiterated in today's meeting," spokesman Reid Cherlin said.

Obama instead urged senators to reconsider his proposal, which would raise federal revenue by reducing itemized deductions such as charitable contributions and mortgage payments for the wealthiest Americans, according to one adviser in the meeting. Obama included that idea in his budget, reporting that it would raise $317 billion over 10 years, a sizable "down payment" on the cost of health-care reform. But Congress immediately labeled the proposal a non-starter.

Looks like we need to back up Obama's preference here, and let the corporatist Blue Dogs and DLCers in the Senate know what we think.

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