CNN

Must be a rather ball-less tax. Bush's tax cuts for the rich increased our deficit by almost that much PER YEAR. So the rich are still waaay ahead!

He will CHANGE his mind and tax everyone and
everything .

It's good to be poor in America. No wonder millions of illegal immigrants wants to go there since the Democrats promised way to citizenship. All for the VOTES Yankees! Youngsters are voting for OBAMA because they don't need to work... They'll just benefit from hard earned billionaires like Buffet or Gates. Wow! They also acquire free cars out of new GM or Government Motors. All hail OBAMA!

its about time

Yep, keep milking the "rich", just like Jimma "Robbing Hood" Cahtah. It was a disaster then, it will be worse today. Obama painted himslef innto a tight corner ("I won't tax those making less than $250k", and then he goes out and spends tha most money in the history of man! Somebody has to pay fopr all of this, and that only leaves the "rich" – to get saoked to the bone.).

Cahatah barely made it through ONE term; Obama will be lucky to get that far!!

This is making no sense to me. Health reform should not be COSTING the country anything unless Barack Obama is planning on handing over money directly to insurance companies. One of the reasons for major health reform is that it should be able to SAVE the country–and each of us–money. We should move from sepnding paying $0.31 of every $1.00 on overhead (ie, insurance companies,billers, etc) to the 3 cents of every Medicare healthcare dollar that Medicare spends on its overhead. Where are these numbers coming from?

This is sick!! The Dems think they have found the way to give their constituents everything they want. "Tax the other guy and use the money for what I want." In spite of what the Dems will most likely say, this is not good. Wait until someone gets in charge who decides to tax you for their constituents. There is no stopping this stupidity.

nope...just Obama's America. I don't even make 1 5th that amount and I know it's wrong

How about we tax the people sucking the money out of the government? You know kind of a "PAYGO" for welfare. You want government entitlements like government health care you pay more in taxes for it. Why tax people who will not be using government health care?

Hope they tax the insurance execs 5% more tax for fleecing the public.

Democrats make me sick.

They punish success and create class warfare.

I feel like I am losing America.

It is very important to have an affordable health insurance program including a public option.The present system isn't working. The insurance companies/drug companies are reaping people off. The congress should find a better way of funding instead of primarily taxing the rich. The other alternative is to cut spending in other areas to fund healthcare. The republicans should stop playing constituency (pro business) politics and offer realistic suggestions instead of just saying NO.

Oigialen
Texas

Ahhh, it begins.......the taxes will keep on coming. Add to this the additional taxes that states will be adding and spending is going to slow to a crawl. Way to stimulate the economy.

Is that AGI? If so, you'll never get them to pay. Their accountants are already busy finding loopholes and offshore accounts to get them under the minimum. Can't we just go to a flat tax that everyone pays. No deductibles, no capital gains, just a flat rate on all income! I know, too easy.

Why not tax sin products like Twinkies? These sugar filled creations are what is making us fatter and sicker by the year. Every state in the nation has at least twenty percent of its population above the obesity line. About six are over thirty percent. Add in high sodium and other high fat products and we would have more than enough to pay for health care. Do they have the guts to do it in Washington?

I will reduce my annual charitable donations by an equal amount that I'm taxed.

Stupid rich people. Making too much money... spending that money and boosting the economy... creating jobs... paying the vast majority of the taxes... buying nice things with the money for which they've busted their butts. Shame on them.

This is how it always works. In today's society their are more takers than there are producers (givers). That means more voters are takers. Therefore, politicians must play to the takers. So what if you soak the producers in order to subsidize the takers? All that gets you is reelected to public office.

Whatever it takes. Just getter done.

Wait a minute, hmm, on campaign trail, didnt Obama tell Americans if he is elected POTUS, they will and should have same healthcare plan as congressional members? Dont believe the dem hype. Obama and dems said they will only raise taxes on the rich. They have raised taxes on cigaretts, which affects ALL Americans. Obama has raised gas prices (remember dems said Bush responsible for gas prices) which affects ALL Americans. Americans have freedom to work hard, which creates a measurable degree of earned wealth. We have people like dems who feel entitled to others wealth that they didnt help create. Obama/dems redistribution of wealth- one segment of society has the basic right to the money of other segments of society.

Thank you Bush and Obama for your one-upsmanship in the tax wars. Ironically the two Presidents may just cancel each other out.

If you people this tax would come anywhere close to paying for the healthcare bill then you are rout of your mind. If a one percent tax raise were to be applied to generate 54 billion a year, then you would have to tax 5.5 trillion. That is 1/3 of the US GDP. The money to pay for this is not in the banks of the super wealthy, it is the wallets of the middle class. There are very few people that qualify as super rich. There millions of people that are in the middle class. Taken as a whole, the middle class control the vast majority of the nations weath. So don't be suprised when Obama comes for you. Or at least whoever is president in 10 years because in 6 months Obama spent all the money we will make in the next decade. This is business and economics, not politics. We will never all be equally rich. But very soon, we will all be equally poor.

WELL NOW thats a great idea and everyone in government should have to be in the same health program as private citizens . same coverage same cost from state elected people to federal employees

everone gets the same coverage and take the large profit away from insurance companies ..make them charge a reasonable rate like normal businesses do . GREED is what got us into this mess in the first place

Wow, these democrats must be proud of themselves..........already 40 percent of Americans pay no taxes, now they want to tax the top 10 percent to pay for their new government trough.

When is this stampede to socialism going to end MR PRESIDENT?

do we really want this new health care ?

o.k. dems – do you really believe what o'bama promised while running and trying to hide who he really is – i can't wait for all of you who think you aren't rich being taxed out of your houses! you put him there and you will suffer just like the ones of us who saw through his b.s now we will all be paying through the nose until we can get rid of him & the dems in congress and replace all the scum with people who will at least try to right the course of this country before it really is too late – thanks a lot dems – you deserve what you got but I don't – i was smart enough to vote AGAINST him and his communist policies ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!

That is a no brainer. It's about time we start to put tax rates back to sane levels.

Well it is about time. Healthcare is dragging the economy down. Shame on the republicans.

Padon me if I dont shed a tear for the poor rich having to pay more taxes. For all those GOP supporters who always bring up their religious morals do you really thinkt hat Jesus would give more money to those that already have plenty, and not use it to help those who are in need?

Under this plan, my taxes would go up. If the health program is effective, I'm cool with it.

Let's hear it GOPPERS, boo hoo, it's class warfare!!! Actually, it's only fair considering how screwed over the lower and middle class has gotten all these years.

But let's not call this Socialism. Call it a Banana.

Get ready to ready from the "Whine" and Cheese crowd.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

......Abraham Lincoln

Good. Maybe we can return the sane kind of tax code this country had for most of the 20th century, instead of the cut-taxes-no-matter-the-damage madness of the new breed of ideologically driven Republicans.

Sin Taxes are bad for sinners. George W. Bush writes in his new soon-to-be-released book something about social darwinism, which he calls "survival of the fittest," and implies that lesser-individuals should basically breed themselves into extinction. So what if millions of people die every year from tobacco, he would have you believe they didn't deserve to live. Just an interesting tidbit of information for those such as myself that like to latch onto bits and pieces of little known information.

Obama and the Democrates have LOST my savings, have LOST my IRA, have LOST my RETIREMENT. Obama and the Democrates are the worst since the early 1900's.

Obama and his leadership is the BIGGESTS JOKE and the stock market shows it.

OBAMA QUIT TRYING TO BE THE BLACK DICTATOR AND FIX THE ECONOMY INSTEAD OF BEING A WASTE AND A LIER.

OBAMA CANT FIX THE ECONOMY BECAUSE HE CANNOT LEAD, HE CAN ONLY TAX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so this is how we reward success? Really, where's the inspiration to do well and get rich when you know youre just going to get taxed for it.

Just remember that the amount of money, in taxes, that the government received via federal taxes was down over 30% year to year when it comes to your paycheck. They will do anything to make up that difference. Yet, they still claim things are fine. When are millions of Americans going to wake up and realize things will get much worse in this country.

First, I'd like to hear someone explain just what exactly this $500 billion in projected savings from health care reforms is?!?!?! Then, I'd like to know how the stimulous is doing such great things for me when my $26.00 dollars a month savings in federal income tax just ends up going to increased medicare taxes. Isn't that kind of like robbing Peter to pay Paul. We fulfill our promise to lower your federal income tax, but then we fulfill our promise of affordable health care by increasing your medicare tax.. So basically we've killed 2 birds with the same stone and you (the taxpayers) are in the same spot you were before.

Democrats seem to be determined to either seize every bit of private wealth in the country–or to drive it out of the country. I'm leaving, and I don't make even as much as the low-end of the Dems confiscation targets.

The democrats continue their criminalization of wealth. The result will be the gradual impoverishment of all Americans.

so campaign promise kept?

I won't be taxed under this plan, but I have to ask – do the Dems know ANYTHING beyond raising taxes? Anything at all?

Oh yes lets do it and then when we see how much it really cost we will all pay the price. Don't worry CNN does not post anything they do not want you to hear.

Our Kids future is lost because we want and want but, we do not want to pay we just will take it from some one that has more thats what our founding fathers wanted right. The home of the free right give it to me free and now

I am happy President Obama is actually keeping the campaign promise on health care, lots of people need this like yesterday.

Nothing is implausible at this moment in history–neither taxing the wealthy (again after 29 years when the top rate was 70% for the 16 years previous to that) nor investigating a republican president for felonies (again after 36 years when Nixon was investigated for the Watergate cover-up) nor examining why the fourth estate simply went with the flow (went along and got along) for the past 8 years or so while the U.S. Constitution was used to roast marshmallows by the justice department and the intelligence gathering agencies (and by the house of representatives and the senate and the supreme court as well). Yes, CNN please review this posting for appropriateness.

Same old liberal story ; class warfare to promote their agenda!

Well, it's finally in the open! Wealth distribution a la Obama! Who woulda thought?

Whoopdeedoo for the lazy!

my wife and I have a few years until we clear the 1/2 mill $ mark, so make it a temporary tax, when we reach the mark then repeal it

While I think the tax levels on high incomes of the late 1930's to late 1970's got a bit outrageous, the evisceration of these revenue streams under Reagan, Bush and Bush was terrible for the federal government. The top marginal rates could easily stand a raise of 4 to 5 percentage points, and I can't think of a better cause than a true universal health care system. Of course the Obama health care plan is garbage and far from universal, so this tax may be harder to sell than necessary; if the Democrats approved a truly universal, single-payer plan, I'm sure citizens at all tax levels would be glad of the tax increase, considering the many other ways they'd make it up (in employer pay, in reduced co-pays and surcharges, and, of course, in not having to pay for procedures the insurance companies whimsically decide they won't cover).

About time! The rich would never miss a 1% tax, but the benefits of having universal health care are immeasurable. Plus, they would have a great return on their investment since a public health option would force the greedy insurance companies to lower their premiums.

Democrats - chipping away at the incentive to work hard, since 1933.

[...] To plug a hole in the quagmire of "health care reform" House Democrats propose a tax on the rich to pay for their risky scheme to "fix" health care.  Watch out you people earning less than their "rich" targets, with inflation that is [...]

Yes, some wealthy people will gripe. Definitely yes, Republicans will scream bloody murder.

Get over it. Seriously. Just get over it.

It's a minuscule amount for someone with that kind of income and it's the right thing to do.

And in our current environment, I hope the currently wealthy consider that they may not always be so fortunate. One day they may also need health care and not be able to pay for it out of pocket.

great! the filthy rich have been takeing and takeing from the poor and working class. now its time they give back. if they dont want to provide good jobs with good benefits then we will make them.

American should have the same insurance coverage the politicians have.

This country is so sad it's like when you make a lot of money you will
get punished whatever happened to work hard and you will prosper
now you work hard and give to people who don't .
There will always be leaders and followers and poor people and rich people but our president thinks that's wrong we live in a free country
where we all have chances to make a good life for ourselves but some do and some don't but we have that choice and as far as the rich people who do you think provides jobs poor people.

I t was obvious after seeing Obama's popularity dive in the poll in Ohio that they would come up with a Public Relations stunt very soon.

Up go taxes to pay for the Administrations's squandering on Saving The American Auto Industry ( yeah, good job there! ) and throwing money at Wall Street ( where DID that money go??!?).

Tax and spend? Really? How about cut and spend or save and spend?

Although I think that the pop tax was far more original and gets more to the route of the problem of the soaring health care prices. Which is of coarse overweight and obese people not health insurance companies and not malpractice laysuits. If we were as healthy as a nation as Japan then health care prices wouldn't be near as high.

But for the sake of the national budget taxing the rich in this case will work.

Here comes the tax everybody its ok we got to pay for those illegal aliens who voted twice for us democrats.

Taxes taxes taxes
The democrats answer to everything. Penalize those that have been successful and likely the same people that employ the masses!
.

This headline is very misleading. You say "House Dems to levy tax on wealthy to pay for healthcare" when in fact: IT IS ONLY A PROPOSAL!! This is one of many examples of a media blitz to mislead and confuse the American people! THE LEGISLATION HASN'T EVEN BEEN INTRODUCED YET!!

As someone who makes this amount in a year, I'm happy to see the budget get that much closer to balanced, and doubt that I will significantly feel the decrease in my paychecks.

Hmm another tax. I know the wealthier are being taxed more than the lower class, but if this keeps up our employers will not have any incentives to give raises, or create more work.
When will common sense prevail here?

It's better than taxing small businesses. This will help alot. So the wealthy may have to downgrade from the Mercedes to the Lexus. Big deal.

what about cutting spending by 10% to help pay the health care program or setup a corporate tax for all those company the tax payer bailout during their time crisis.

wow, that wasn't that hard. We need to pay for healthcare refrom, we increase taxes. What an easy concept.

I can guess the lame comments from people who don't like this plan. First, they will scream class warfare. Guess what, there was already a war and the rich won. Over the last 30 years the rich got richer and everyone else stagnated (or got poorer). Second, all the rich people are going to leave. Wrong. There is no other country with the stability and safety of the US that doesn't already tax more then we do. Also, this assumes everyone that makes lots of money is an individualist, devoid of morals or so shallow they would leave over a 1% difference in their taxes. Lastly, I must be lazy, poor and looking for a handout from others hard work. Wrong. Both my wife and I are hard working professional workers who would gladly pay more taxes if it ment all American's would get healthcare. This is a moral issue. Just because we don't see the suffering doesn't mean it isn't happening. Lets cut the middle man out and goto a single payer system.

Great idea since it will not effect me,not with my income, I have family cannot afford insurance since they have been layed off. The wealthy have no idea what many many people have to go through just to keep a roof over head, tires and gas in an old car and food on the table, How can they afford heath care when just keeping their head above water is a full time job!

But I know they will holler along with the rich GOP , it might put a cramp in their spa visits, vacation on the Riveria , a new home in the mountains , beach etc.or possiblly might not get that new designer hand bag, or new sports car , and an upgrade on the mansion!
Maybe the rich and famous need a reality check on what is happening right under their cosmeticly altered noses!

Let the fun begin.

Start hitting "rich couples" that earn an incredible $175,000 a year each. That salary can barely afford to rent an apartment in New York City, and now you'll be taking away thousands of dollars from said couple.

And for what? To pay for health care for illegal immigrants, people on welfare who don't care to help themselves, and people who never put forth the effort in high school, college, or their workplace to ensure their careers and success.

Not to mention that these people are the ones who choose to be the least healthy, statistically speaking. So the rich pay for bill for the poor.

This is sickening.

That all Obama know how to do Increase TAX On Health care etc.
To cover person like Nancy P to get BOTOX.

I will gladly pay this when I'm making it. Totally worth it.

no taxes for anyone
Iam a demo and we dont need more taxes
we need the democrats to stop gaving more money to there friends
and big companys like aig
then we will have plenty of money for what we need
but until we the people take back are country we will have no place to call home

That totally works for me!

The insanely rich people in this nation need to "give back" to the rest of us. Isn't that the sort of people we're supposed to be?

Now, I realize they'll all whine and tell us that this will hurt investment and such, but I hope we're past believing that bunk!

One less trip to Europe might actually do some of these rapacious buggers some good!

Its about time they put it. The middle class has been carrying the lower class too long. Yes the top 1% make more money then most countries combined, but they don’t get it without us little people having a need for what they have cleverly taken or swindled over centuries of lies. Look @ the wealth made by Michael Jackson, he had a product we all want and paid for and he was richer then rich. And then you have these oil companies, CEO's of big car companies, power and electric companies who make everything or buy out everyone to shush them for fear of any potential competition, These giants know we need what they have and the crank up the fee's, Well those fee's never get back to us nor dose it go down to the little people. This will be the only way to see all the money we finance the retarded rich peoples mansions and Lambo's!
Thanks Congress and Obama!!!
I don’t dislike the rich, I just don’t like that they can put their name on a high school or own a Long horn and never pay taxes that even the people who make 50-90k a year pay.

Steal from the rich and give to the poor only works in story books

Yea, I'm a total democrat, always have been and always will be. I'm not actually a republican, it's just total coincidence that I've always voted for republicans and the only things I ever post are derogatory comments about democrats. No way am I a plant and completely lying about being a democrat. It's just total coincidence that I only post my dislike for democrats.

Oh, Obama is no good, nor is Frank, Pelosi, and any other democrat. But I'm a total democrat, thats why you can believe me when I say it, because I'm not PRETENDING to be a democrat.

Well, with the Health Care Reform covering only 1/3rd of the uninsured in America, which means it will cost 3 times as much to cover the other 2/3rds since the democrats also want to cover illegal immigrants, who are they going to tax for the rest of the money? They will have to tax the middle class. Personally I think the people using the govenment ran programs should have to pay something so the system is not abused to get drugs like the Celebrity Elite have. As I have said before my son made $18,000 last year and pays $250.00 a month to cover he and his 5 year old son with good medical insurance, I do not feel sorry for anyone else who says they cannot afford insurance. They need to give up somethings to get it if they want it. Things like partying, alcohol, drugs, their cell phone and internet, their vacation, eating out, 150 channel cable. These are things my son cannot afford. That is why he has to live with his parents.

We know these necessary reforms will not be without cost. If a tax must be levied on incomes that constitute "wealth", then so be it. Since it is a marginal rate increase, the tax will be levied on the last dollar earned, not the first (as our current FICA/Medicare taxes are paid).

At minimum, we recover some of the AIG bonus money we have already paid.

Most rich people I always thought wanted to help and share their good fortune, I dont understand why the MEDIA and REPUBLICANS make it out to be so dirty... They are helping the most needly , and arent we all judged one day by the good and bad , arent nations judged by how they treat their mosty needy ?
Doing GOOD , whether it be by paying a little more in taxes or giving a little more to charities or both ...... is a GOOD THING ..... dont let some make it seem like its bad ...
We are all GOOO, WE are all worthy ... We are all GODS CHILDREN...

CNN, sorry, this isn't really news. House Dems want to raise taxes on ALL of us and have been wanting to for some time.

I propose we just give everything we make to them since they are so wise and fiscally responsible. I'm sure they'll make sure we get enough to meet our needs.

I just want health care and food and gay marriage. I could care less about freedoms that the Constitution supposedly guarantees me. It was written by a bunch of old crusty rich white guys anyway, what did they know?

Nice work hard and you get to pay for those that don't! Where did my boy Barack go wrong?????

As a young American who is a student, I see no problem in reforming health care now and paying for it with those who are able to contribute so, in the future, these taxes could be levied and would not be needed. Additionally, though, a tax on sugary drinks and unhealthy foods would send a strong message to the American people that we will change our standard of living and become a more healthy people. But, of course, I understand that this is governmet interfering with the daily lives of citizens, so that would never fly. In the end, i can't see a huge opposition to this new tax since it's the most reasonable and fair way to help pay for it at the moment. This administration is doing exactly what we most of us young citizens sent President Obama to do. Change and reform the government that we knew into the government that we need for the future.

Guess the Goose that laid the golden egg has been found.

I am willing to pay more taxes for health care insurance for everyone. I make 60K I would be willing to pay 1 or 2% more in taxes so everyone, including myself should I become unemployed and lose my employer insurance, would have health insurance coverage. Everyone should have access to health insurance, with a no pre-existing clause and if the poor cannot afford to pay the premiums then use the taxes to subsidize them to pay for a public insurance plan. The cost of which could be kept down by clinics that are staffed by nurses and a physician's assistant or doctor that comes in a couple of days a week. The payment amount should be added to the welfare assistance amount but go directly to the insurer, NOT the individual(s) via the welfare payment system.

Also, the House plan does not include illegal aliens, but then they will still go to the emergency room for health care and we will still pay for it in higher rates for all us, although the cost for 12 million would be less than 47 million.

Before all the Republicans huff and puff, a little perspective...1% of $ 350,000 is $ 3500 a YEAR. So people who make $ 30,000 a MONTH would pay an extra $ 150 off their pay checks. In return for a health care fix. I would gladly pay an extra 1% in taxes to fix health care, but I know the GOP puts money ahead of country so I won't be surprised when all the conservatives come out whining.

D oes the tax include them (doubt it)? If all politicians would go totally on their proposed health plan not their current one just the one they propose for taxpayers and stay on it for at least 3 years and if it does work and they don't cheat and use other health care than fine taxpayers will be willing to try it once the politicians have proven it works.

Sounds fair to me. Take from those who have more to give to those who have less. It doesn't matter how those who have more got it, they need to share. That's what I tell my kids on the playground. They get along great with the other kids.

i hope the rich people dont cry or some poor ones dont cry for them after all the working poor made them rich stop hoarding money and make this world a better place

The surtax is a lazy if not a stupid idea. Beside punishing people who work hard, they would have to pay a few thousands dollars more by just earning 1 dollar more, e.g. $280,000 vs $279,999... More people will choose not to work to avoid being punished. Watching for the unployment rate to go up and tax revenue to go down.

Woo hoo! Wealth redistribution! "Collectivism", Socialism, Communism (as in a government based on the communal good: a la Marx), Progressive, "Enlightened". It doesn't matter what you call it. In the end, we are promoting a state where initiative and effort are discouraged, reliance on GOVERNMENT (read your hard earned wages... uh, I mean the government's essential tax revenues) is required, and those who find themselves dependent on government are told that without the wonderfulness of government, the mean rich oppressors wouldn't allow them to survive, much less succeed. Hmm... sounds more and more like I don't like what's happening to this nation. Look, I love our country, our freedom, our values. I just really dislike our politicians!

These guys are so quick to raise taxes. I hope they understand they have to pay them as well. Whoops!! They write the laws so they know better than most how to get around the laws!

Aren't these the rich who got richer under Bush and his tax cuts for the wealthy? Some of them are also the banksters from Wall Street who had a field day destroying the rest of us financially, with their schemes. I just can't feel their pain right now.

Fine with me. Now get the Blue Dog Democrats on board or get them out. It's time for American government to put the people first – and the people need serious reform with a public option.

Middle class.... you are next!

oh finally, finally the rich get to almost pay their share...

"religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich" napoleon bonaparte

Bad politics.If Obama tries to tax his way to more spending he will put this country into a death spiral until a Depression wipes out the middle class altogether

Oh yeah! it sounds good, isn't it? When they run out of rich people to tax to death, they'll be after YOU!

You'll be seeing MORE people getting laid off, you have Obambi to thank for when you lose your job or your parent's job.

Looks like I will have to lay off two more employees.

Wow, taxing the rich, neat idea. I thought they didn't have to pay.

Lets tax the people that make over $400,000 in a year to pay for health care, and soon they will start laying off people that work for them to recover some of the losses. Good job DEM's. Ask you congress are they willing to give up there free health care and take part in the National Health Care plan that they are trying to force down your throat.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!" – Karl Marx

If you go to college, study hard, invest your money wisely, or lead a business that employees hundreds, if not thousands of people, then get rewarded with a very high salary, then the government will punish you by confiscating YOUR money to pay other's health care. What a crock!

I can hear the screaming from the right wing now, so let me get in my preliminary two bits' worth in early. HOORAY!. 1)Taxes on folks at that level used to be a LOT higher–when we built the middle-class America that we are now trying to recover. 2) Low taxes don't necessarily lead to prosperity; there are lots of other factors that are more important; 3) yes, the new taxes will affect me . . .

OBAMA EQUALS NEW TAXES and LIES.

Those who voted for him dont believe, but the taxing anti-christ is in the house and his demoncrates are in control. Next Obama will be having his demons put a 666 on your forhead and a computer chip in your neck so they can track you. Its brought to you by the socialist anti-christ Obama.

If you are at all relgious, compare what Obama is doing to the Book Of Revelations.

how is this not socialism? I have worked hard my entire life, studied hard, sacrificed a tremendous amount to put myself through school and find that my hard work has paid off in later life in the form of a decent salary. And my reward is to SHARE my payoff with someone who, BooHoo cry me a river, cannot pay their own insurance. I say work harder; this is America, a land where dreams still come true.

WOW.......tax the rich to help pay for healthcare for the poor? No there is an original idea. Glad we are paying this idiots hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in salary to come up with this proposal.

What a complete friggin joke.

I know this latest bit of news is going to get the GOP all up in a tizzy, so lets re-frame the whole situation:
1. Let's back out $54B from defense spending and apply that money to fund health care–Swords to Plowshares.
2. Take the the same amount of money "contributed" by wealthier taxpayers and apply it to the defense budget–since they always want an increase in defense spending this seems like a patriotic thing to do right? we'll even stencil in each donors' name on to the missile of their choice.

See? everyone gets what they want, everyone is happy.

After the the end of would war II the top income tax rate was high as 91% for the richest Americans.

Oh boy...time for the incessant Republican crying and shouting to begin!

This is the simplest, easiest way to pay for the up-front costs of health insurance reform. It makes no sense that the highest tax bracket in our tax code is $250,000 and above–that's not "rich" in this country anymore.

Haba!
Is it a curse to be rich in this contry?

Merely doing away with the Social Security cap currently at $90,000 would more than pay for all Health care related costs. For those who don't know, you currently pay 6.2% S.S. tax, also matched by your employer. But unlike most Americans, the rich only pay on the first $90,000 of their income. So if they make $9 million a year they are only taxed on 1% of their salary. You on the other hand are taxed on 100% of yours.
Welcome to the World of Republican Tax Policy. Republicans think this kind of Screwing the Middle Class is Good for America and will do anything to preserve the status quo. Bet Rush Limbough won't tell you this little fact! That would require honesty.

tax, tax, tax..............spend, spend, spend..............what this administration does best.

Finally, Congress appears to be restoring some common sense and balance to a tax code that has been consistently and relentlessly tilted in favor of the rich under republican rule. Even with these changes, the highest tax brackets will return to rates in place under Ronald Reagan (before the neocon revolution slashed the rates of the richest Americans even further). This seems to be a sensible, fair way to ensure that all Americans will have access to health insurance, and I applaud the dems for tackling this republican straw dog and plowing the way for universal coverage.

This tax will be like all the other new ones coming. Before long anyone making more $10,000 a year will be considered wealthy by Obama and subject to all new taxes. WAKE UP people will we still have a country left.

OBAMA WANTS TO RAISE TAXES!
Yeah, on all the oligarchs who got a free ride on the previous administration. As he said in his campaign.
I MIGHT BE A MILLIONAIRE AFTER I GET MY GED, SO HE MIGHT RAISE MY TAXES!
Right you are, Joe the Plumber. You are the Republican base.
OBAMA IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, SPENDING A TRILLION DOLLARS ON RECOVERY!
As opposed to Bush's 3 trillion on his private war, financed by tax cuts for the rich.

Taxing sugary drinks (and tobacco) would have been far better...

Time for the rich to pay a little more for the money they miled out of the rest of our labor.

"Selfish"? Only dead fish go with the flow. Sarah said that.
Obama is selling "Dead Fish"...l

Great! I am making over $600,000/yr and I don't mind paying my share. Actually, my income is not the source of my wealth. It is my vivid imagination. But even if my income were $600,000, I would not mind paying higher taxes to help pay for health care.

Whats new about that? when you spend ,spend,spend,eventually you have to Tax,tax,tax...And you Obama supporters think the rich will not pass it along,by having one less Servants,or one less wage earner,or they will not raise the price of their products.Surely your not that foolish,Are You?

Oh Great!! how about stripping the people that are making their own living to but naked and distributing it to pot smoking lazy idiots who live on their parents' social security or kids earnings.. how does that sound!!

It's about time these tax cuts for the rich go away. Tricle-down economics only makes the fat fatter while the other 97% of the population have to pull the weight of the rich. This decision should be written in stone ,never to be changed.

Sounds good!

I'll be darned, now that's the kind of change I like to hear! We just paid for healthcare reform! Take that you republican naysayers, who would never dare take a penny from the already rich to give to the needy! I'm sure the argument that comes will be, (the rich) "I already donate to the needy causes I want to, so why should I be taxed even more? To that I say, "can I get you some cheese with that "whine"? Just make one less trip to the gas station for your Bentley and you'll recoup the expenditure! Gotcha...

Sounds like a good plan – the wealthy can afford it. Besides, having a healthier workforce means a more productive, reliable workforce – and in the end, more profits for business. It's a win-win all around.

Can someone please inform House Dems how exactly insurance works. You pay proportional to your risk, not your wealth.

The wealthy will likely stay on their private health-care plans, so they'd be paying for insurance twice, while the person who uses that service will pay nothing. How in the world is that fair or rational?

I understand that since they make more money, they can afford to pay more taxes, but the question is should they?

This country calls itself the land of the free, but yet we're slowly inching our way to where what we are free to do is decided by religious and political groups and not common sense.

Everyone knew they would have to raise taxes to pay for it eventually but at least he is keeping his word and it is not on people making less then $250,000. Still don't see how the plan is going to save any money since they are opnly going to limit how much prices go up by and not actually lower prices anywhere. As for the idea that healthy people are going to go in and get check ups it rarely happens now with those who do hjave insurance what makes them think that is magicly going to change?

good.. about time the rich started to pay their share.... GOP has always protected the rich

Why do they even bother using the word "Democrat", just call yourselves "Socalist" and come out of the Marxist Closet

In addition, put a tax on internet purchases, and raise other taxes by one dollar and we've got a public option plan.....Don't tell me it's impossible and you don't have the votes......Congress needs: courage and will......

Welcome to the newly formed Socialist States of America

If it wasn't for all the greedy health care insurance executives exploiting our need for health care insurance to make themselves filthy rich, we wouldn't be in the situation we are today.

If we really want to bring health care insurance premiums down and make health care insurance affordable, why don't we start by limiting executive compensation packages for health care insurance executives?

This would be the perfect and most complete resoulution to solving how to pay for health care, if your rich and making a substantial amount such as $280,000-$400,000 or if your married and making over $500,000 you should pay more in taxes because your making more money throughout the year. The more you make the more you should pay in taxes thats the American way not making the poor and middle class paying more in taxes and going more into debt

Scott Stodden (Freeport,IL)

How about a voluntary system:

If you believe in a Government option... then you indicate on your tax-return and "buy into" the program – allowing you access.

If you DON'T believe in Government control – then you can opt out and assure your taxes won't be wasted on this misadventure.

THUS – democrats, liberals, and those always looking for a hand-OUT can pay for it.

More redistribution of wealth. Obama wants everyone to share in what you worked so hard to earn. What's next, confiscating our homes to be shelters for welfare queens? Forced job sharing with illegal aliens? 2 car families have to give one car to those without?

Wrong – and mis-leading. It IS NOT a done deal.

Quit with the hype and spin. Do some real reporting on something of importance.

Going downhill every day CNN.