First, it is important to know that Senator Kerry is one of those who have proposed this idea initially, and that he intended it as a way not the employee like the right wanted it to be.
This said, honest people have long exposed the problem with the tax as it is written. I am among the skeptic (even if Kerry is my senator and I respect him for trying). But here is the post he had today on the Hill and Huffinton Post, and we should all appreciate when people try an honest conversation, rather than demonizing people we disagree with.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/74835-why-this-progressive-is-sticking-by-the-tax-on-insurers-sen-john-kerry
There've been a lot of claims made and exaggerations leveled in the last days about a provision in the Senate-passed health reform bill that places an excise tax on the insurance companies that offer high cost health insurance plans. A lot of it comes from the right wing that wants to kill health care reform. But a lot of it also comes from friends who share my convictions about health care.
I want to address what they're seeing, hearing, and saying.
First the good things, including a few I did not know and that were part of what worries me in this bill.
Fourth, the excise tax included in the Senate-passed health care bill will affect only a small portion of the very highest cost health plans -- a total of 3% of premiums in 2013. The vast majority of health plans fall below the thresholds set in the Senate plan and would be completely unaffected by the provision. In addition, the Senate plan provides special protections to plans held by workers in high-risk professions -- like police and firefighters -- as well as by those over 55.
Second, the less good things. I have seen people here say that the plan as is defined will not hurt hard working American families. According to Kerry, not true, and it is why he is asking that the threshold be changed
Does the Senate-passed bill cast too broad a net by setting the excise tax threshold too low? Yes. This could affect some of the hardest working American families. So let's fix it, not nix it. I believe the final health care reform bill will include appropriate adjustments to preserve its cost containing benefits while increasing the fairness of this provision. But let's get back to the business of doing that instead of fighting to kill a provision that improves health care -- and improves the chances of passing health care this month.
Now, Kerry did not convince me that the House way was not better and there are a few points I do not understand and for which I would need to read more research, but I appreciate somebody ready to make his point honestly.
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