Costly ‘marriage penalty’ in proposed health care bill draws criticism

[buffalo]

More support for the family unit?

Costly ‘marriage penalty’ in proposed health care bill draws criticism

Washington D.C., Jan 8, 2010 / 06:42 am (CNA).- Proposed health care reform could require some married couples to pay $2,000 or more compared to unmarried couples living together, prompting some leaders to criticize the “marriage penalty.” They voiced concerns the provision would discourage marriage.
The penalty arises because the planned subsidies for purchasing health insurance are tied to federal poverty guidelines. According to the Wall Street Journal, this would limit subsidies for married couples with a combined income compared to subsidies for unmarried couples.
The rules would not affect those who receive health insurance from an employer. They would only affect those who buy subsidized insurance through the new insurance exchanges set up by the legislation.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 17 million people would receive such subsidies in 2016 under the House health care bill.

more…

 

[Charlotte408]

I already posted this at like, 8 am this morning with no posts…but I’m very curious to see how people will react- this health care bill is unraveling and bearing all its ugly teeth…

 

[buffalo]

I already posted this at like, 8 am this morning with no posts…but I’m very curious to see how people will react- this health care bill is unraveling and bearing all its ugly teeth…

Yup - let the people read it and see what is in it. The longer it goes on the more we will learn.

 

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

This will affect the small business owner who buys his own insurance for his family. Many
of these businesses don’t have group insurance for the company and its employees,
opting instead to give them an allowance so they can buy their own.
I thought a lot more people were becoming aware of the many pitfalls of the proposed
health care bills, but over the last few days I have seen some people being interviewed,
and by their responses, you could tell they had no clue.
Sad, sad, sad.

 

[stbruno]

Truly truly sad. Especially since our President recently reiterated his support of gay marriage. Will this penalty only be invoked on marriage between a man and a woman? I bet it will. More reasons to pray that saner heads will defeat the current health care proposal.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Truly truly sad. Especially since our President recently reiterated his support of gay marriage. Will this penalty only be invoked on marriage between a man and a woman? I bet it will. More reasons to pray that saner heads will defeat the current health care proposal.

Wait…what?? As long as I acn remember the ONLY thing Obama and I agreed on was keeping marriage heterosexual. Where did he say he supported it?

 

[Charlotte408]

Wait…what?? As long as I acn remember the ONLY thing Obama and I agreed on was keeping marriage heterosexual. Where did he say he supported it?

are you kidding me? that was one of his main campaign promises…that he would defend the rights of the gays and lesbians the ‘discriminated peoples of today’…

his first promise, to take away the dont ask dont tell, then he promises to nationalize same sex marriage…some how…idk, but whoopi goes on and on about it on the view how mad she is that he hasnt done JACK for them and the gay community was suge a big part in his campaign…

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

are you kidding me? that was one of his main campaign promises…that he would defend the rights of the gays and lesbians the ‘discriminated peoples of today’…

his first promise, to take away the dont ask dont tell, then he promises to nationalize same sex marriage…some how…idk, but whoopi goes on and on about it on the view how mad she is that he hasnt done JACK for them and the gay community was suge a big part in his campaign…

well…he is against gay marriage but support gay rights in that they can’tbe discriminated against.

Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, “I’m a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue,** I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.**”

Barack Obama sure has a strange way of showing his much-touted support for traditional marriage.

The President has stated his opposition to marriage equality many times.

Links:

lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/p/BarackObama.htm

onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=653242

time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1917344,00.html

Many other websites try to paint him as supporting gay marriage, but say that they are “hopeful” he’ll “move on to supporting gay marriage” since he does not currently.

Don’t get me wrong, I do NOT support Obama, but we can’t build strawmen and be successful in our opposition.

 

[Charlotte408]

Well thats all doublespeak.

I dont believe in same sex marriage.

I think same sex couples should not be discrminated against etc etc.

Well if he lifts that ‘discrimination’ and we know what he’s referring too, then what does that allow for? same sex marriage…

check out this, from mr. obamas homepage:

Senator Obama just released an open letter concerning LGBT equality in America, reaffirming his steadfast commitment to equal rights for ALL Americans.

As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment.** But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage.** Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal
only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and I have **worked to improve the Uniting American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples **in our immigration system.

my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alexokrent/gGggJS

In red, do you really think he’s just going to come out and say ‘I dont believe in same sex marriage’?? heck no, not with so many LGBT supporters!

But he will slyly say he personally thinks civil unions would best afford them their rights…

but why then get rid of DOMA? its a slippery slope and he’s just weasling his way in…

at least thats my opinion.

much like how he just made what? june national LGBT month! some people are like, whatever, i dont care.

but think of it like this- he’s doing all this revamping to education right? wants all this equal stuff and i’m at a loss for words, but- Febuary is black history month right?

Thats on your calendar. Kids in school for a week that month dedicate studies to african americans. you think this national month will be any different.

Thats his motive operandi or whatever the word is. ‘No…I dont think homosexual stuff should be taught in school’

then he makes a month national LGBT month…doesnt make a fuss about it, and then, well look - low and behold its on all the calendars and we all have to accept it. you see what i mean? my kids driving me crazy sorry i cant dedicate more time to making sense…

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

do you really think he’s just going to come out and say ‘I dont believe in same sex marriage’?? heck no, not with so many LGBT supporters!

He already did, in an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune. Quote and links again…

In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, “I’m a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.”

lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesb…arackObama.htm

He is actually losing footing with his LGBT crowd because they expected his denial of belief in gay marriage to be something he just said to get elected. They are leaving him now that they know he really believes it. That’s part of the many reasons his ratings are going down.

He is, at worst, a flip-flopper. But we can’t say he approves of gay marriage, when he has maintained continually – verified by many sources – that he does NOT support gay marriage.

Now, some of his gay rights stuff I actually do agree with. There needs to be laws in place to make sure that employers and housing aren’t discriminating based on SSA. This is America, after all. They aren’t hurting anyone by wanting to live in a home, work in a job, and even fight for their nation. They are, however, shoving their beliefs down our throats when they fight for gay marriage. They are trying to force all of us to admit that it is acceptable to us that they are doing that by making their relationship a public status. I am grateful that Obama has stated publicly that this isn’t a valid solution. I also think there needs to be protections in place if one parter dies and the other can’t collect life insurance even if they lived together their whole adult lives. This just seems wrong and unjust. It’s not my job, as a christian, to make their lives miserable so they’ll “stop being gay.” It is my job to make sure that a) they aren’t trying to shove their beliefs down mine or my (future) kids’ throats, and b) That I am loving them, praying for them, and trying to win them to Christ. I can’t stop them from practicing immoral acts, only Christ can do that. All I can do is show them the way to Christ and the church.