WASHINGTON (CNN) - An aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirms to CNN that, in attempt to quell a revolt among conservative Democrats, she is considering changing House Democrats' health care bill so that it only taxes families making $1 million or more.
"The Speaker has said several times she would like to squeeze more savings out of the system, and if we can do that we can reduce the number of people affected by the surcharge," said Brendan Daly, a spokesman for the Speaker.
To raise revenue to pay for reform, the House Democrats health care bill would impose a surcharge on individuals making $280,000 or more and families making $350,000 or more.
Pelosi is now suggesting starting that surtax at individuals making $500,000 and families making $1 million.
The Speaker first raised the idea in an interview with Politico.
Last week, 22 Democratic House freshmen sent a letter to the Speaker saying they were "extremely concerned" about what the taxes in their party's health care bill would do to small businesses.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democratic freshman from a conservative swing district in Virginia, told CNN he believes a surcharge could hurt his constituents.
“It’s important to remember that with the expiration of the tax cuts on the highest income level, folks over a certain income level are going to see their tax rate go from 35 percent back to 39.6 percent,“ Connolly told CNN.
"To add to that a 5.4 percent tax to finance health care, on top of other fees and so forth that are being discussed, I think is wrong."
But he said Pelosi's idea to eliminate the tax on any individuals making below $500,000 helps.
"It narrows the number of people who would be affected. I think it probably goes a long way in protecting the small businesses we were concerned about and it puts more pressure on our House colleagues who are writing the bill to identify more in savings." Connolly told CNN.
As for Republicans: House GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence, R-Indiana, slammed the surtax in any form. "It almost boggles the mind that the majority in Congress would continue headlong down a pathway toward increasing the tax burden on anyone at a time when our economy is shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs per month," said Pence.
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Who panders to the rich? Democrats! Who has the wealthiest House district in the US? Gerry Connolly of Virginia, a Democrat!
Kick the Blue Dogs to the curb – two by two......
A song from the 60's goes "tax the rich, feed the poor, till there are no rich no more." My question is what happens when there are no more rich? Then how will Obamatopia pay for itself?
Typical liberal insanity. Punish the successful, reward the failures.
This socialist insanity has GOT TO END!
@ Fair is Fair, who said "Sniffit July 20th, 2009 12:57 pm ET
Name another industry in which terrible service results in you NEEDING more service, whether you like it or not, in the same manner as the health care industry.
_______________________
The automobile industry."
Stop buying American then.
Wealth redistribution at it's finest. Under Obama for the first time more people are getting a government check than aren't. As those using services continue to grow these 'limited' taxes will creep lower and lower into the middle class, until we have a permanent welfare class awith everyone else paying for them.
one million dollars they wont feel a thing!
As long as we dont let the liberals run this through quickly before the public really understands it, it wont have a chance. Thank god for the blue dog and Dems!! Obama and the administration set a fake deadline so they could try and get it passed before everything was known about this garbage. Even the Democratic governors dont want it!!!
We will get their swiss accts,offshore accts.and all their sub chapter s tools etc.They think they have their money hidden now, but those days are numbered.The rich WILL finally pay taxes or go to prison like the rest of us do.
I with the speaker; the rich have wealth to the point that they would never miss a few thouasand dollars; they spend a few thousand on a pair of shoes – ask John McCain how much he spent for his last pair. Then ask if he really needed them. The rich can afford it and they can consider it the charity work they never really do.
Congress needs to turn into Robin Hood. I can't wait until the Bush tax breaks for the rich expire.
The blue dogs are the only dems that have any sense. pelosi needs to fly her jet back to california ( which is broke) and retire. When all of their own economic advisors are warning them against this legislation and they won't listen, somethings wrong. I don't know what pelosi, obamaand reid's agenda is, but it seems to be to bring this country to it's knees. if that is the case their doing one hell of a good job.
JD – 4:21pm – STOP you are not rich and this would not affect you and you are arguing against your own best interest. You need health care more than John McCain does but you would argue to protect his 10's of millions...............
I had my second knee replacement (different knee) July 10. I was shocked at how many interviews I had with various clinics, doctors, care levels, before the surgery. Most all information was duplicated, but it took real personnel to interview me each time.
I was also shocked at how much of this information is written by hand onto forms, then other forms, then other forms, all pretty much the same information.
All these people writing all these reports are costing an arm and a leg. THIS is where we still need to cut, cut, cut wasteful and/or duplicate processes.
"Healthcare reform will not increase federal spending" -Obama July 2009
LIAR!!
If after receiving the windfall of the Bush tax cuts, you oppose the health care surtax, while we have soldier's in harm's way, you are the most selfish, narcissistic, greedy person imaginable. The wealthy should not be selfishly opposed to supporting real solutions to America's problems. And the extremely high cost of health care is a real problem that cannot be ignored.
Let's get a few things straight in regards to this debate of Republicans offering ideas. Yes, they have offered alternative plans. The debate starts when we bring in the word "NEW".
The republicans have not had a NEW thought since Jesus died. All they have is the regurgetated "Give rich people a tax break...let every one else die" policies. We predicted what their plan would involve "Save rich people money, screw the poor and the other 95% of america".
So yes, you have offered your plan...but it's the same plan you keep offering. We want something that doesn't keep the rich rich, and the poor poor.
Are rich people bad? No. But they should not recieve special treatment either. They need to stop free loading on the poor. You can talk about your tax bracket all you like. But it's nothing more then a talking point. In the end, rich people pay less per dollar earned then do the poor people. Remove their tax shelters and tax their off shore accounts and then we'll discuss this "pay more taxes' crap you people keep spewing. But until then, they are nothing but free loaders not doing their share. Pay the same, per take home dollar.....PERIOD.
@Sniffit – if government health care were so bad how come every Rushpublican has opted to keep his or her government sponsored health care instead of seeking private insurance; lord knows they can afford to get insured anywhere they want.
This is an example of what happens when long standing politicans with no fear of not being re-elected make policy. Elections have consequences...you wanted socialism, you got it. The U.S. is going to make Sweden look coldly capitalist.
Pelosi is a joke!! The Democrats and LIberals should be very ashamed of her. She wants it so bad, why doesn't she donate all her money and cut down on her expenses and trips to put toward health care. Do you guys really think anyone making a million or more hasn't found ways to reduce their taxable incomes??? It isn't jsut the Blue Dog Democrats that are wary of this reform, it is other Democrats!
Sounds fine to me.
Oh, those must evil of people! Those who dare to earn more than what Queen Nancy thinks they ought to be allowed to earn!
Pelosi just doesn't get it. It's not who she plans to rob, it's the intent to rob that's so appalling. Somehow she's gotten it into her fuzzy little liberal head that private wealth is wrong and either not ought to be allowed, or if, despite her best efforts to limit it only to government, people manage to achieve it, they ought to be punished.
Tax and spend,
Tax and spend,
Tax and spend all day.
Oh what fun it is to prop up Chevrolet, Hey!
To the tune of Jingle Bells.
I don't feel like working anymore. gimme gimme gimme! those mean and nasty rich people have too much money and it's NOT FAIR!
Nancy, START THE SURTAX AT $30k!!!
I only make $24k a year... If you make more than me, you are rich...
There are not enough rich people in this country to pay down the $23 TRILLION debt which the Obama administration said we would have as of THIS MORNING. Quit mooching and stay within your budgets people.
Why doesn't Pelosi go a few steps further and introduce changes to make Congress and the President accept the same insurance coverage that the American taxpayers would have to take under this nationalized healthcare program?.
Gator think about this for one minute. We give billions to countries in need; we give billions to countries like Egypt and Israel so that they won't fight each other; we give millions to Iraq insurgents not to shoot at U.S. Troops. We give millions to Pakistan to fight against drug exports and to keep peace with India. All those billions of tax payer dollars and we never say we can't afford it.
Now we have President that wants to address the needs and concerns of the country. That wants to improve our infrastructure and our health care. Why is it that when we discuss spending money on Americans in America its cost too much; but we don't have a problem tossing money all over the rest of the planet?
Do any of you moron GOPers know how long we've had a graduated/progressive income tax in this country (no, "progressive" doesn't refer to the political leanings of its proponents)? First one: 1862. Yes, this was during Lincoln's presidency, and yes, both chambers of Congress had a Republican majority.
So please, shoosh.
Tax the rich!!!!! How unfair is that? They can't afford it. Its obivous we have to tax the poor they can afford it. I get so sick of the poor expecting the rich to pay their fair share. Why should the rich pay? The poor have much more to lose, they should pay. Why if the poor dont pay their fair share they will lose their way of life, framed 1000 square foot homes they can't afford to heat. The right to pay out medical bills monthly. Where on the other hand the rich will only lose mansions, restored vintage cars, vacation homes in the mountains & on the beach......never mind...but wait! The rich works hard for their money! They spend hours digging ditches, laying pipe, back breaking work....oops I forgot the rich dont have to do labor work, the poor does it for them...........disregard,...... my bad.
It won't be enough.
Madame Speaker, is s(smart ) like the (FOX) she is,the (republicans) dont know what to do, wtih the (MAJORITY). Mike Pence ,who is on the (Bubble) in Indiana,slams the (Surtax)in any (FORM). He is on (Life Support ) in his own state,and always promotes the (PARTY OF NO). The President said in his (CAMPAIN) he would not raise (TAXES) on anyone ,making (250 Thousand Dollars), and Nancy Pelosi to (suggest) a (Surtax ) on 500 to a (Million) bracket ,is (FAIR)...President Obama is so (SMART) he has the (RNC) and the (GOP) just where the President wants them, (ON DEFENSE). Madame Speaker ,your (DAY) has come,to enject (CHANGE) and continue ,to stay on (POINT) and follow the leader , President Obama. It is (TME) for the (RICH ) to do their (PART) for the (Country). We need and will (GET HEALTH CARE REFORM). The (GOP) does not have a (PLAN) no (NEW IDEAS) they just say (NO). ... (YES WE CAN ) Madame Speaker, (YES WE WILL) and after the press (Conference) on Wed with the President to the (NATION)... (YES WE DID)....
That is not what Barack Obama said... Another Flip Flop. He said he was going to Tax the rich to help the poor. So far he has done absolutly nothing to help the lower-class. Only himself. The Turky who thinks he something because he can use the word "ICON" of which he will never be..
To Scott the Independent
1st off Scott, YOU are NOT an Independent. You sir are a Liberal, trying to pass yourself off as an independent.
There is a right way to do health care reform and there is a wrong way. And what is being proposed is the WRONG way.
Try reading some of the bill that is being proposed.
This this is a HUGE fiasco waiting to happen.
*** WAKE UP AMERICA - BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE ***
You people writting these comments about the rich are crazy. I am not rich but I would like to be. The rich are so evil but who is going to give you a job when the rich run out of money & are poor. How many of you are employed by a poor person? You people are joke & make me laugh. God help you all.
Wait a second. Obama said the health care changes would pay for themselves when he was campaigning.
I think we have our Obama Lie-of-the-Day!
No real transparency in the new banking system. We cave-in to the oligarchswho have no regard for the tax payers who bailed them out. The banksmake a profit by new accounting methods. True unemployment reaches 24% in some places. Health care reform begins to slowly be watered down and is really about the poor not "all Americans". Not every service is an entitlement. Not everyone is equal. It is a fact. And I suppose people like nancy peilosi think no one notices. The senate is an exclusive club more interested in itself, its privileges, its egos than the country. Lies and distortion are the order of the day.
Dutch says "Congress needs to turn into Robin Hood."
To which I respond: " . . . . from my cold, dead hands."
JD,
I'm sure you aspire to be considered one of the wealthy in this country. Sorry, its a club they won't let you into. They will let you in so far!
Since people in Hollywood don't seem to mind paying taxes (Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin, Jon Bon Jovi), maybe we should just tax actors, directors and producers in Hollywood making over $250,000 per movie.
Why is taxing the rich to pay for everyone else ok with many on this board? You can't take care of yourself and provide for yourself? It isn't up to those who work hard to pay for your lazy butt! What will be the incentive for anyone to work hard when the government takes in excess of 50% of ones income with income tax.............not to mention the many other taxes paid, like property, sales, gas...etc, etc. Can't any of you lame brains figure out this will cost jobs? Or is it you don't care about jobs cause you don't want to work anyway?
How about the old bat Pelosi gives up her private jet privileges that we the tax payers are paying for. All the politicians should give up their perks that we pay for. If all of Obamas tax cheats, paid their taxes we wouldn't have to tax the crap out of everyone else. What is wrong with those who need the health care pay their own premiums??
They should also apply it to every congressman and Senator.
Aunt Bea and Opie July 20th, 2009 4:32 pm ET
We will get their swiss accts,offshore accts.and all their sub chapter s tools etc.They think they have their money hidden now, but those days are numbered.The rich WILL finally pay taxes or go to prison like the rest of us do.
------------------
Lets see.......Timothy Geithner, Charlie Rangel, Tom Daschle and the likes didn't pay taxes and they sure didn't go to prison.
I guess that those making less than $1 million do the majority of creating jobs in America, so this won't effect unemployment at all.
I don't think that Ms. Pelosi's plan is well thought out. i suggest the income limit be set at 400,000 for individual and 800,000 for family. In any part of the US these are substantial incomes.
@ Dutch the Mooch
So I guess you still think trickle down economics works huh?
Pelosi, You are doing a Great Job.
I support you. Keep up the Good Work.
Their fair share of taxes or The National Razor. Let them decide.
I got a better idea to finance public health care. Do similar to what we do to finance schools. Instead of having a local property tax we have a national ASSETS tax. Everyone pays a tax on a small percent of their asset. To fund publick health care. At this point the costs of health care in this country have gotten plain ridicules, it cost $15,000 to have a baby in a hospital with a normal delivery and a two day stay. What a joke. The main reason for this situation is laws passed by your governments both State and Federal that infuse large amounts of money into the system and give near monopoly status to hospitals and drug companies. Ever wonder why there are lots of abortion clinics and no birthing clinics? Anyway I see the system crashing under its own weight in the next ten years. Only hope is to start a parallel system run by the government much like education. Private care and public care. The public system would compete with the private system and help bring down the costs of the private system. The thinking behind everyone paying for public schools even if you are wealthy and send your kids to a private school is that everyone benefits from a well educated population. The same goes for health care, we all benefit from a healthy work force. The current VA hospital system could be a nucleus for the start of the public system.
Maybe if organizations like Planned Parenthood were NOT given 350 million of our tax dollars to kill babies there might be enough money to partially finance healthcare issues. Pelosi and her ilk are totally out of touch with reality. My trust is all polticians is nil.
The assumption that only the rich pay taxes is a ruse and a disingenous GOP talking point. The wealthy have had thier free ride for quite sometime now, so rolling back tax breaks to the 1990's levels will not kill the incentives to create jobs or aspirations to be rich.
Even Warren Buffet and Bill Gates recognize the inequities are overly skewed towards the wealthy.
Do not carry the propaganda load for the greedy millionaire AM radio entertainers and their lackeys in congress , Americans need health care reform to allow for future prosperity for all, not just the wealthy
I don' t make that much money but honestly if a person makes $1 million per year and the the money is earned then it is their money. Not the government's money, not poor people's money, not my money. I just don't believe in over taxing anyone even the rich people.
Everyone that I know who makes alot of money (over $100K/yr) work very hard, long hours, well educated etc. These are exactly the people who are contributing the most to our economy today under the current tax code. I don't want to punish them with more taxes.
The real problem in this country is the people who won't work. They make excuses, try to claim disability, they think that they are too good for certain jobs even though they have no education. It's pathetic. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORK IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM INCLUDING HEALTHCARE.
@ Scott the Independent, who asked "Why is it that when we discuss spending money on Americans in America its cost too much; but we don't have a problem tossing money all over the rest of the planet?"
Because the last thing they want is a truly level playing field...then they might actually have to compete, instead of enjoying the fruits of nepotism and inherited wealth and power. If you ask me, it's high past time we ripped the silver spoons out of their mouths and who gives a crap if it takes a few teeth with it.
@Democrat no more – you obviously aren't rich so why are you protecting their money don't you think they can afford to hire lobbyist to do that?
Fine with me under two conditions: 1) all members of Congress should be subject to this same taxation...NO exceptions and 2) they take the same crap health care program they foist on the rest of us. Until then, no deal, Madame Pelosi....anything less is hypocrisy!
nom deplume July 20th, 2009 4:49 pm ET
Dutch says "Congress needs to turn into Robin Hood."
To which I respond: " . . . . from my cold, dead hands."
------------------–
Ditto...............nom deplume
"A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money".
--G, Gordon Liddy-–
I had an opportunity to use the Canadian Health Care Service in a walk-in clinic while visiting Canada. I paid 60 Canadian dollars for the service, which included ten minutes of waiting and 15 minutes with the doctor. I only interacted with two people: the receptionist and the doctor. The receptionist gave me a small form to fill in with my name, address and emergency contact. Then the doctor came to get me, entered my medical information into the computer himself, and gave me a prescription. This is the shortest doctor's visit I have had in North America, but it works. We badly need efficiency and effectiveness in our health care operations.
I can understand why we need extra people working unproductively in any field after we lose too many jobs overseas. However, it is counterproductive IF we just give unnecessary jobs to people so they can live on. These people could have had a creative job and do great things. Our current system wasted not only lots of money but also human resources. Let's get rid of private health insurance companies and free up the human capital for more productive ideas and jobs. Education is the foundation to make us creative again. Increasing personal services and retailing cannot sustain our economy.
Obama, don't let Pelosi call ALL of the shots, or you'll be house-hunting in January 2013.
For every captive who is murdered by the Taliban. """One Mosque should be destroyd."" Until you treat them for what they are, they will test your metal
Can someone please, please make Pelosi just go away? Everytime she opens her mouth, I want to cringe. How anybody voted for her is just a cruel joke on the American public. Ship her back to San Fran, which is probably the only place she makes sense!!
For 8 years, the wealthiest Americans received a huge tax cut while the rest of us did not. What's wrong with rolling their taxes back to what they were? If it will help dig us out of the hole we're in, it's worth trying. Make no mistake about it – health care costs are driving our debt up at an ever increasing rate. WE pay for the uninsured when they go to the emergency room with conditions that often could have been prevented with far less expensive care.
For those who show their ignorance by chastising Obama for "allowing Pelosi to ......" Obama doesn't "allow" Speaker Pelosi to do anything. She is an elected official and Speaker of the House. She has ONE vote in the House of Representatives. ONE! The Legislative Branch writes the legislation. The President can make recommendations but he does not write legislation. He can sign it or veto it. That's it. Pelosi does not dictate to the President, nor does he to the Speaker.
You really should study how government works before making such comments.
The primary equation here is how many votes do the Democrats gain as Pelosi raises the "tax the rich" level for health care. I thought they were the party of the little guy fighting against the evil upper class but I guess some of those rich guys must vote Democratic.
Pushing it up to $1 million probably exempts half of the taxpayers over the $350,000 level. Of course that means they'll have to punish those truly rich people even more by doubling the surcharge to make up the difference.
Anyone making more than $110K should have to pay this surcharge. With only one exception..... if the person files under Schedule SE then they would be exempt from the tax.
Stop playing the republican game. Taxing the wealthy is a joke. They do not pay anywhere close to the percentage of tax that the average wage earner pays. Out of the top tax rate if they pay 10 % it is most likely a lot, many pay no tax at all. So while the rest of us pay 20 to 27 % they pay much less.
Democrats, let get smart and really get the money that is required. NO ONE believes the wealthy will pay. HERE IS AN IDEA. – Cut their tax rate 2 % but give them no deductions. Any income over say $300,000 can no longer claim any deductions. Easy to do and politically smart as the republicans can’t scream tax increase. Just think of the REAL money that would be generated!
It is way past time for the wealthy to pay their full tax rate and stop rapping the system.
Don't tax you, don't tax me, tax that guy behind the tree.
Pelosi is the Liar of the House.
Labor creates wealth. Not the other way around. Have a nice day!
lolol...man, what a bunch of clowns these democrats are. They have no idea what they are doing. This must be just killing all the democrats to see their Mr. Hope & Change turn out to be such a dismal failure.
And how much does Congress make?
Remember what happened to the guy or guys back in school who got the whole class in trouble, to where they had to stay after school?Its time to take these republican foot draggers under the bleachers.
It is duly noted that a segment of society feels that no sacrifice or contribution is never needed for the good of the nation as whole, these folks be they rich, middle class or poor tend to generally trend as republicans.
These are the very same folks that would support an ill concieved war abroad and gladly send your sons and daughters to die for said war, but would not lift an finger to volunteer.
Greed and selfishness are sins and have become sadly become an american tradition.
What ever happened to America?
So what have we learned in 2,064 years ? Apparently, Nothing!
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled,and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
Cicero – 55 BC
"For every captive who is murdered by the Taliban. """One Mosque should be destroyd."" Until you treat them for what they are, they will test your metal"
So what should we be humbly accepting as our righteous punishment for those we tortured? How about the 100K+ dead Iraqis or the families we helped them leave behind when they died? Comments like yours show zero understanding of the issues.
@@@ Sarah July 20th, 2009 1:33 pm ET
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 men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.
-Lincoln
________________________
You cannot Defraud the Poor to become Rich.
You cannot take Bonuses from the Bail Out Money of the Tax Dollars of Poor, Like the Wall Street Executives.
You cannot take Private Jet Rides from the Bail Out Money, Like the Bank of America Executives.
You cannot Scam the Poor into Sub Prime Lending on unreasonable Adjustable rate mortgages.
You cannot mislead the Poor to Iraq war for your greed for Oil.
Pelosi must make $999,999.99 per year...She is an ABSOLUTE..............joke!!!!!
I'm all for a sliding scale tax code. If the USA could get a health care system like Norways I would have no problem paying more. I'm middle class. To cover my family it's $11,000. Even if they raised my tax to the level they want to raise it on the rich I would be paying less and getting more.
Will the plan have restrictions on funding illegal immigrat health care? No. Your taxes will pay for them too. Will the plan prevent employers from junking their current plans and forcing you into a public plan? No. Are there any examples in the US of a government run health plan? Yes, the VA. You know, the substandard plan our vets are stuck with.
How about making the "public option" optional, requiring all those who want it to perform public labor & service equal to the amount that the public option costs ? No more something for nothing.
Kevin B:
It is duly noted that there is also a segment of society feels that everyone else should be obligated to 'make a contribution' to their well-being, these folks be they rich, middle class or poor tend to generally trend as democrats.
I'll go a step further and point out that if you view charitable giving by party lines, republicans give a much higher percentage out of pocket then democrats. Looking at this, I'm led to believe that both sides desire the best for their fellow humans, democrats feel charity should be mandated and forced on people, republicans feel that it should come from the individual.
Try not to demonize a group that disagrees with you – let's all start with the premise that no one desires harm to anyone else, it's a matter of where they think the help should come from.
Nancy PeLIEsi is your typical tax and spend liberal. Your money not hers.