CBO: Obamacare Raises Taxes on Middle Class

September 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm (Economy, Healthcare, Middle Class, Obamacare, Obamatax, Penalty, Penalty Tax, President Obama, Taxes)

“With every passing day, more evidence mounts that Obamacare is a costly disaster. Yesterday the CBO informed us that even more of the middle-class families who President Obama promised would see no tax increase will in fact see a massive tax increase thanks to Obamacare. The American people do not want this law, we cannot afford this law, and when Mitt Romney is president he will repeal it and replace it with common-sense, patient-centered reforms that strengthen our health care system.” – Amanda Henneberg, Romney Campaign Spokesperson
To View This Press Release Online, Click Here: http://mi.tt/UgLiTP
Yesterday, The Congressional Budget Office Issued A Report Estimating That Obamacare Will Raise Taxes On Nearly Six Million Americans:
The Congressional Budget Office Estimates Nearly 6 Million Americans Will Get Hit With Obamacare’s Tax Increase.“Congressional budget analysts are now estimating that nearly 6 million Americans — most of them in the middle class — will have to pay a tax penalty for not getting health insurance once President Barack Obama’s health care law is fully in place.” (“Tax Penalty To Hit Nearly 6M Uninsured People,” The Associated Press, 9/19/12)
CBO’s Latest Estimate Found That 2 Million More Americans Would Experience A Tax Hike Because Of Obamacare.“The earlier estimate found 4 million people would be affected in 2016, when the penalty is fully in effect. The difference — 2 million people— represents a 50 percent increase.” (“Tax Penalty To Hit Nearly 6M Uninsured People,” The Associated Press, 9/19/12)
And It’s The Middle Class That Will Be Hurt By Obamacare’s Tax Hike – A Violation of President Obama’s Pledge To Not Raise Taxes On The Middle Class:
The CBO Analysis Found That “Nearly 80 Percent Of Those Who’ll Face The Penalty” Are In The Middle Class.“Nonetheless, in his first campaign for the White House, Obama pledged not to raise taxes on individuals making less than $200,000 a year and couples making less than $250,000. And the budget office analysis found that nearly 80 percent of those who’ll face the penalty would be making up to or less than five times the federal poverty level.” (“Tax Penalty To Hit Nearly 6M Uninsured People,” The Associated Press, 9/19/12)
In 2016, 4.7 Million Americans – Who Live In Families That Earn Up To $123,000 Per Year – Will Be Subjected To The Individual Mandate Tax In Obamacare. (“Payments Of Penalties For Being Uninsured Under The Affordable Care Act,” Congressional Budget Office, 9/12)
  • 600,000 Americans – Who Live In Families That Earn Less Than The Federal Poverty Level Of $24,600 Per Year – Will Be Subjected To The Individual Mandate Tax In Obamacare. (“Payments Of Penalties For Being Uninsured Under The Affordable Care Act,” Congressional Budget Office, 9/12)
  • 1.2 Million Americans – Who Live In Families That Earn Between $24,600 And $49,200 Per Year – Will Be Subjected To The Individual Mandate Tax In Obamacare. (“Payments Of Penalties For Being Uninsured Under The Affordable Care Act,” Congressional Budget Office, 9/12)
  • 1.2 Million Americans – Who Live In Families That Earn Between $49,200 And $73,800 Per Year – Will Be Subjected To The Individual Mandate Tax In Obamacare. (“Payments Of Penalties For Being Uninsured Under The Affordable Care Act,” Congressional Budget Office, 9/12)
  • 1.1 Million Americans – Who Live In Families That Earn Between $73,800 And $98,400 Per Year – Will Be Subjected To The Individual Mandate Tax In Obamacare. (“Payments Of Penalties For Being Uninsured Under The Affordable Care Act,” Congressional Budget Office, 9/12)
  • 600,000 Americans – Who Live In Families That Earn Between $98,400 And $123,000 Per Year – Will Be Subjected To The Individual Mandate Tax In Obamacare. (“Payments Of Penalties For Being Uninsured Under The Affordable Care Act,” Congressional Budget Office, 9/12)
FLASHBACK: Candidate Obama, In 2008: “Under My Plan, No Family Making Less Than $250,000 Will See Their Taxes Increase … Not Any Of Your Taxes.” OBAMA: “And I can make a firm pledge: under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 will see their taxes increase – not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes..” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks, Dover, NH, 8/12/08)
  • During Debates Over Obamacare, The Obama White House Emphasized That President Obama’s Middle-Class Tax Pledge “Didn’t Come With Caveats.” REPORTER: “The President’s opposition to tax increases for the middle income.  Does that apply to the health care bill, and specifically to this idea about taxing health insurance premiums?” ROBERT GIBBS: “Taxing?” REPORTER: “Health insurance premiums.” GIBBS:  “Well, I mean it’s — the statement didn’t come with caveats.” (Press Briefing By Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Washington, D.C., 4/15/09)

Permalink Leave a Comment

Good News! Obamacare to Slam the Economy with $1 Trillion in New Taxes

July 26, 2012 at 8:17 pm (CBO, Congressional Budget Office, Healthcare, Obamacare, Obamatax, Penalty, Penalty Tax, President Obama, Raise Taxes, Tax, Tax Increase, Taxes)

Call it a penalty, call it a tax.  Call it a “penalty tax” as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has.

Call it what you will, we’ll just call it ‘devastating’.

Beltway Confidential reports:

President Obama’s health care law raises taxes by $1 trillion, according to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office.

The individual mandate — which the CBO calls a “penalty tax,” in apparent deference to Chief Justice John Roberts — will produce $55 billion in “penalty payments by uninsured individuals,” the CBO told House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, in a Tuesday letter. Of course, the framers of the law didn’t design the mandate as a tax, and so it produces less revenue than any other provision in the bill.

The “additional hospital insurance tax” is the largest tax increase in Obamacare, projected to bring in $318 billion in new revenues. According to the 2010 report from the Journal of Accountancy, this tax hits “high-income tax payers” — individuals making over $125,000 a year or households making over $250,000 a year.

It may hit so-called high-income tax payers, but it will most certainly have an effect on lower-income families as well.

This from the Tax Policy Blog:

Though Obama vowed not to raise taxes on low-to-middle income Americans, various provisions will most certainly fall on lower income groups. For example, new annual taxes on health insurance providers, drug manufacturers, and the medical device industry will be passed on to all consumers in the form of higher prices and premiums. More direct are new taxes on high-cost “Cadillac” health plans, the tax on tanning services that is already in effect, and the individual mandate tax/penalty.

Regarding the tax/penalty for not purchasing health insurance, my analysis indicates that many low and middle-income households will experience tax increases of substantial magnitude. For example, starting in 2016, an uninsured family of four with income of $50,000 will owe $2,085—or 4.17 percent of income.  As shown in the table above, the individual mandate represents a $55 billion tax increase over 10 years, and this is before it is fully phased in. 

With high- and low-income earners alike having to worry about massive tax increases, the Obamatax should do wonders for the economy, particularly in the areas of spending and consumer confidence.

Here is a video reminder of Obama saying, “You don’t raise taxes in a recession”.

Permalink Leave a Comment