Senate committee: Hey, we found more taxes in Obamacare
posted at 9:30 am on October 7, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) scoffed at a proposal from Jim Bunning (R-KY) that would require a 72-hour period before the Senate could vote on a bill presented to the floor in order to give Senators — and their constituents — a chance to read the legislation. Durbin told the Washington Examiner that he supports reading bills before votes, but that he suspected the rule was nothing more than an eeeeeeeeevil Republican conspiracy to … do what? Promote literacy? Let Durbin explain:
Democratic leaders are even less eager embrace a Senate-wide rule change. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told me last week that he supports making sure there is enough time for lawmakers to read and understand legislation, but he questioned the motive of Bunning and other Republicans.
“They dream up new ways to slow things down every week,” Durbin said.
It’s hard to imagine the crushing burden of three extra days on a bill that takes months to get through committees, where windbags of both parties bloviate endlessly on trivialities while missing billions of dollars in new burdens on taxpayers. For example, the Senate Finance Committee — the very committee on which Bunning serves and attempted to impose the same kind of waiting period, unsuccessfully — just heard from the Joint Committee on Taxation that its new taxes on health-care providers are almost $30 billion higher than anyone thought:
The Joint Committee on Taxation says drug companies, medical device manufacturers and insurers would pay $121 billion over 10 years as a result of taxes in the Senate Finance Committee bill.
That’s compared with $92 billion originally calculated.
The tax experts said the reason for the change is that the companies won’t be able to deduct the fees from their corporate income taxes.
You know how they figured that out? They read the bill. Imagine what Americans could find in this legislation if we had time to read it before the Senate took a vote! Of course, that’s really what Durbin wants to avoid, not a minimal three-day waiting period — which, by the way, is still less than the five-day waiting period imposed on Americans who want to exercise their Second Amendment right to purchase firearms.
If we have to wait five days to purchase a firearm, it’s not unreasonable to require the Senate to take three days before pulling the trigger.
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POST THE BILL!
Khun Joe on October 7, 2009 at 9:33 AM
The Democrats want a complete takeover of medicine by the federal government and we’re all suppose to just shrug and say “okay”? We are on a knife’s edge here. This bill must not pass.
Mojave Mark on October 7, 2009 at 9:33 AM
But the Democrats don’t want us to be able to purchase a firearm ever. Same holds true for the abilty to comment on the legislation they are attempting to pass.
highhopes on October 7, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Call Snowe and Lincoln today! KILL THE BILL!
parteagirl on October 7, 2009 at 9:33 AM
When you’re serving a crap sandwich, you don’t want to list the ingredients on the wrapper, do you?
I walked into the Marine Corps Exchange in Quantico, bought a .45/ammo for it and took it home that day, is the law different on federal land and why?
NoDonkey on October 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Kill the Bill!!!!!
highhopes on October 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
“In Rush to Pass 1,000-Page Health Care Bill, Congress Accidentally Enacts Walton, Indiana, Yellow Pages” http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/08/in-rush-to-pass-1000-page-health-care.html
Mervis Winter on October 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Keep looking.
faraway on October 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
KILL THE BILL! KILL IT ALL! There is no trust!
elduende on October 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
R or D, Congress is evil evil evil!
uknowmorethanme on October 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
72 hours minimum…and at that includes 72 hours of posting before the vote is taken.
This is the age of internet, their is no reason not to have every bill posted on a website for all to review.
right2bright on October 7, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Look at that poetic metaphor…firearm, pulling the trigger…my, my, mister fancy pants…
right2bright on October 7, 2009 at 9:39 AM
These jackasses are running a clandestine operation and their behavior is the antithesis of what the founding fathers intended. The conditions in this poor sick Republic are reaching a boiling point.
rplat on October 7, 2009 at 9:39 AM
A good idea, is a good idea, regardless of who proposes it.
Sounds to me like Durbin is inventing excuses for keeping the citizens in the dark. (IE, standard liberal fare.)
MarkTheGreat on October 7, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Didn’t Ogabe champion the idea of letting the public see these bills too?
Go**am I hate these royalist douchebags in our political system, pretending that they don’t work for us and we should all just shut up and go away.
Bishop on October 7, 2009 at 9:40 AM
It is like Christmas for Government.
Or should I say Holiday Time instead?
Mr. Joe on October 7, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Seeing Durbin’s face before breakfast is enough to kill my appetite.
Gosh I love living in Illinois.
//sarc
annoyinglittletwerp on October 7, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Actually, in theory, our representative Democracy should make further public input unnecessary. The reality is that one can’t trust Congress because they will act in their own interest and not that of the American people. They all need to go.
highhopes on October 7, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Obama did get something right without knowing it of course. When he made the analogy to having to buy auto insurance. I’ve been uninsured for two years and have been paying cash, and actually saving money by not paying premiums.
Health care insurance should be like auto insurance, for catastrophes only. With a car your insurance company doesn’t pay for wiper refills, oil changes, tune ups, gasoline, brakes,etc…You do….When something catastrophic happens is when they come in to play.
If health insurance was actually health insurance instead of a Ponzi scheme payment plan, the cost of everything would go down as they would be competing for free market dollars..
In other words, the government always costs us more. And by the way, I get sick everytime I see Dick Durbin..Saying Guantanamo was like a Gulag. He needs to be put into a Gulag or go live in Cuba for awhile and then get back to us, Dick….
adamsmith on October 7, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Not in Wisconsin. Walk in, background check, walk out. Though no concealed carry, which is probably worse.
BadgerHawk on October 7, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Actually, I would prefer him to go away and not get back to us.
ICBM on October 7, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Dirk Durbin has an appropriate first name, that’s for sure.
diditagain on October 7, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Seventy-two hours is bullsh*t. I don’t understand why it’s not a week–at least. This isn’t a declaration of war following an unprovoked attack. Sorry to cite Frank Luntz, but the simple question is “Why?” Why the rush? Why, when this stuff doesn’t go into effect until 2013? Don’t cite people dying when nothing will change for four years. In the meantime, we could be improving care and reducing costs very soon with lawsuit-abuse reform (sorry, Frank Luntz, again) and increased competition across state lines. People understand those things, they make sense, and yet they’re aren’t happening.
Durbin and Dems are complete idiots.
BuckeyeSam on October 7, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Yes he sure did. And he wanted 5 days if I’m not mistaken. Of course we know that’s all a load of BS. The man said whatever he had to in order to get elected.
As for the higher taxes, someone explain to me how this won’t be passed onto the consumer.
Doughboy on October 7, 2009 at 9:48 AM
It is different per state, governed by state law. One more reason to live in Texas (no wait).
Vashta.Nerada on October 7, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Yes… but why???? What were they up to? What cause could anyone have to actually read a bill?
mankai on October 7, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Yet again — I’ve lost track how many times — I appologize on behalf of my state, Illinois, for inflicting Senator Durbin on the country. Aside from his all to predictable liberalism, I really detest his blatant and inexcusable hypocrisy. When he was first elected to the Senate in 1990 he crowed about his victory, piously proclaiming that “the people” had spoken, voting an end to partisanship. Fast forward to the present time and he is one of the worst offenders of hyperpartisanship in the entire Senate, and that’s saying a lot.
jwolf on October 7, 2009 at 9:52 AM
OR, YOU JUST CHANGE THE INGREDIENTS
Rovin on October 7, 2009 at 9:52 AM
No wait in Ohio either. I’m not sure about Missouri, but will probably find out soon as my wife wants a .380 because it’s smaller than the 9mm we bought over the summer.
MobileVideoEngineer on October 7, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Sooooooo, libs demand waiting periods on our constitutionally protected right to own firearms, which protect our self, family and property; but they can’t READ a bill that puts a gun to our heads and mandates we give up our freedom and settle for sub-standard health care?
Branch Rickey on October 7, 2009 at 9:55 AM
See Ed beat me to this point — didn’t see this part of the post.
Oh well, great minds think alike!
Branch Rickey on October 7, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Drive the medical device companies out of business too, that makes sense; our amputee soldiers can walk around on peg legs or sit on little handcarts.
What is with this demorat desire to destroy the free market, they are only going to make their own lives worse off too.
Bishop on October 7, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Vote these clod hoppers out of office! They aren’t representative of their constituents, the constitution, or this country. It’s ALL about them, and they’ll do anything to keep their control, and power. VOTE THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!
capejasmine on October 7, 2009 at 10:03 AM
suckaz
blatantblue on October 7, 2009 at 10:03 AM
I think I will call my Blue Dog’s office and ask for a copy of the bill, just to see what they tell me.
flyfisher on October 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM
It continues to amaze me that neither side talks about paying for future programs with cuts in other programs. when was the last time anyone in congress suggested that, if we want something new, we must be willing to give up something else. instead, it’s get something new by raising taxes. legislation is not deficit-neutral if it requires new tax revenue to pay for it. it is only deficit-neutral if there are correspondeing cuts elsewhere to pay for the new program.
uncalheels on October 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM
No kidding. And who need CPAP machines? I mean, really. Just live with the fact that sometimes people stop breathing in the middle of the night. And continuous insulin/drug pumps. Diabetes and cancer just makes you stronger, baby!
So not only will they drive insurance out of business, they’re going to take the drug companies and medical equipment people out too? Excellent.
mjk on October 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Anti/Incumbant 2010!
Akzed on October 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
handy list of whom to call if linkys dont come thru they are on my post here:
ginaswo on October 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
testing testing 1-2-3-manually entering linkys..
Thursday: Call the Senate Finance Committee AGAIN tell them our economy cannot afford another massive government spending bill. Record your answers and the number of calls you made.
ginaswo on October 7, 2009 at 10:08 AM
flyfisher
all blue dogs here
ginaswo on October 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Obambi is very deliberate in making his decision about whether to send more troops, meeting with his “War Council” and that brilliant military strategist Joe Biden. He wants to make sure the right decision is made. I don’t criticize him for that. But when it comes to a trillion dollar takeover of the health care system we must act as quickly as possible, no time to think or consider the effects, it has to be done NOW!!! Well, we don’t want it to take effect now, because everyone will hate what it does to their health care. By “now”, we mean pass it now and put off the devastating consequences of the legislation until 2013 when Obama is safely re-elected. What a sack o’ S***.
uncalheels on October 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
More like Springtime for Hitler.
TXUS on October 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
How the hell can they think they’re actually acting in the interest of the public?!?!?! Really?!?!? They get so wrapped up in the Dem/Rep game the lose sight of basic common sense. It’s sickening…and that’s not even taking into account the legislation at hand.
NickelAndDime on October 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I propose
a bill that states that everytime Congress raises taxes on healthcare/income/breathing, that they agree to pay 2x the percentage they charge the American people.
Term Limits
a bill that ensures cuts in government programs everytime a new government sector is added like “public option”.
at least ten day waiting period before any bill is passed and the posting of that bill’s contents on congressional website at least five days before it is passed.
nyx on October 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Ask them for a copy and when they can’t get you that, ask them all manner of questions as to what is in the bill. Just make crap up like if massage therapy is covered or if women can have babies in swimming pools. They should know that technically bills like this shouldn’t discuss details like that, but I would wager the rep wouldn’t have a clue.
mjk on October 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Thanks for that list. Dialing CONgressman Childers now…
flyfisher on October 7, 2009 at 10:19 AM
It gets worse, originally the Baucus bill listed tampons as medical devices, I kid you not.
Still included under taxable med devices are breast pumps and…wait for it…surgical needles.
Bishop on October 7, 2009 at 10:24 AM
They know they are screwing us and they don’t care. The American public needs time to review, analyze, understand, and comment on the bill. There is no rush other than the crooked legislators’ need to hide what they are doing from the citizens.
We need our leaders to demonstrate outrage about this.
GaltBlvnAtty on October 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM
LOL. Tampons? The Baucus bill – clearly not written with women in mind. I’m not sure why they would consider tampons medical devices. I guess it’s used to soak up bodily fluids. That’s probably why. Good Lord.
And who needs to sew up a gaping surgical incision? Just leave the wound open and let the chips fall where they may.
mjk on October 7, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Must vary by state. I’ve bought several handguns here in TX, and you take them home the same day, if your record is clean. Don’t even need a license unless you want to carry it concealed.
mr.blacksheep on October 7, 2009 at 10:41 AM
If 10 million people all applied for a permit-to-purchase tomorrow, all at once on the same day, the politicians might decide to reconsider their stonewalling of a posting of the ObamaCare bill.
Just thinking out loud…
Yoop on October 7, 2009 at 10:46 AM
I just got off the phone with CONgressman Childers Washington office. And I sensed a change in attitude. I was immediately told he’s against Obamacare. I’ve called twice before and each time they stuttered and stammered to tell me he’s not for it “at this time.”
Everyone needs to keep calling and writing. The impact is cumulative. They need a constant reminder that there is more to fear from us than their liberal cohorts in CONgress and the White House.
flyfisher on October 7, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Two points. First, making these fees and taxes non-deductible is malicious policy and not a happy windfall in taxes. And you know these will be passed on to consumers.
Second, I think we need to switch waiting periods, 5 days to read the bill and 3 days to get the firearm. This assumes some of us can speed read the bill in less than 2 days.
Mark30339 on October 7, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I would love to see it. But the truth is middle America is already well-armed and TPTB know it.
flyfisher on October 7, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Once again the democrats show they do not want an informed constituency.
For the sake of Truth In Packaging it is high time we force the “Democratic” party to change their name.
kurtzz3 on October 7, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Where do you have to wait 5 days to buy a firearm?
Here in the great state of Texas you can get one within about an hour.
Anders on October 7, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Insane Clown Posse is already taken.
How about the “Jackasses on Crack” party?
If the shoe fits . . .
NoDonkey on October 7, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Understand one thing, and this is coming from an Illinoisian, about Senator Dick Durbin.
The man is a consummate, consistent, bordering-on-pathological liar who literally talks out of both sides of his mouth at the same time!
Just take the opposite to anything this man says, and you will have a better idea what is going on.
pilamaye on October 7, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Don’t have to actually purchase, just apply for permit-to-purchase. Let the FBI tell the politicians that, for some reason, their system has been crashed by 10 million request for background checks, all at the same time.
Let the pols ponder what the hell might be going on in the people’s minds. ;-)
Yoop on October 7, 2009 at 11:13 AM
EVERY time someone pushed me to hurry up and buy something
I ALWAYS got screwed in the end and wished i hadnt.
EVERY time just like a used car salesman who screws the unsuspecting buyer with fast talk and flashy paint
but all that does is conceal what is underneath the hood
A whole lot of rust, broken parts, malfunctions requireing 3 times the estimates to repair..
In the end you und up with a piece of junk that isnt worth
1/ 10th of what you paid for it..
So when i see these politicians doing the same thing
i know
WE ALL ARE ABOUT to be royally SCREWED..
I will NOT obey obamacare
I will NOT obey their laws
I will do whatever it takes to disobey the democrats
Just like all of the tax cheats obama and the democrats hired..
If they do this without the citizens of the usa approval
it will be time for all of us to revolt..
and i do mean a real revolt..
veteranoutrage on October 7, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Just keep giving these fools more rope…they are doing a darn fine job of building thier gallows for 2010 and beyond.
DrW on October 7, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Depends on the state. The once great state of Illinois has a wait of 72 hours for handguns and 24 for long guns. Several states have no wait. Fill out the forms, run the background check, and take your purchase home.
alilianstrom on October 7, 2009 at 11:15 AM
dishonest, disingenuous prick.
therightscoop on October 7, 2009 at 11:19 AM
SINCE THE HEALTHCARE BILL IS ENACTED IN 4 YEARS!!!
Question: Why do the democrats want this healthcare bill rushed through when it takes years to go into effect?
So 4 years of tax increases help to fund this illegal alien care, senior rationing, death panel enabled, government controlled turd.
dthorny on October 7, 2009 at 11:33 AM
I wrote here that this is a hint that the wheels might be coming off the health care reform bus.
LFRGary on October 7, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Dick Durbin, car salesman: If you don’t trade in that car today, you’ll die on the way home.
Buyer: Well, it’s actually a pretty damn good car and yours seems pretty expensive for what I’m getting. Let me read the details.
Durbin: Didn’t you hear me? You have to buy today! It’s for your own good. Why are you trying to slow this down?
Buyer: Well, how do you like this car?
Durbin: Are you kidding? I wouldn’t be caught dead in that piece of crap.
RadClown on October 7, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Three days to read a 1,000-page bill? Let’s assume they spent 8 hours a day reading (a VERY generous assumption for a Congress-critter), they would have to read over 40 pages per hour (or one page every minute and a half!), not counting time for a speed-reading course.
Then, if a Congress-critter found something amiss, he/she would need more time to calculate the cost to the American taxpayer of the formerly hidden proposal. Which is basically what the CBO is supposed to do.
Three days to read the bill is much too short, but it’s better than nothing, which is what we’ll probably get from the full-speed-ahead, jam-the-torpedoes-down-their-throats Democrats.
Steve Z on October 7, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Ok, let’s equate the bill passing process to firearm purchases, and I am serious.
In CA, it’s one gun a month and a 10 day waiting period, plus background check, plus a training class and test if you want to buy a handgun.
Sounds to me we would benefit if Congress were under the same rules.
Durbin just doesn’t like anyone who infringes on HIS freedoms…he’s special. Better than you.
Easy to understand why “Congressman” is such a perjorative insult to sentient people.
Harry Schell on October 7, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Oh, and if Carper is right, the bill will be incomprehensible even to those experts in “legislative language”.
So the waiting time should be doubled, and legal counsel available to help readers with the arcane manure which infests that language.
Harry Schell on October 7, 2009 at 12:17 PM
apology accepted, herewith is mine for CA inflicting Boxer and Feinstein on you all.
Not everybody in this state is as looney as those two, but we are overrun with idiots and marxist “progressives”.
Sorry, y’all.
Harry
Harry Schell on October 7, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Posting Durbin’s photo reminds me of him referring to U.S. soldiers as NAZI’s. He IS the Durbin who smeared our troops, isn’t he? If so, he’s a proven lying scumbag (wait, he’s a democrap, “lying scumbag” is redundant) and ANYTHING he says should be treated as a lie until and unless he can prove otherwise.
oldleprechaun on October 7, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Burn it with FIRE!!!
BigWyo on October 7, 2009 at 12:54 PM
New life threatening progressive disease about to wipe out America.
A major new disease is about to break out and decimate the American population in the coming months unless a vaccine can be created to stop it. This disease is caused by radical pathogens invading many American households and exploiting our weakened state. It is reported that about 53% of all Americans are affected by this disease. The official name for the disease is ONNAAP. First discovered is the early 1900’s it has Progressively infected millions of Americans over the years leaving doctors scrambling for a cure. If the disease is not stopped within the next one to three months America will be the country of a major calamity never to return again. Most of Europe has been infected with ONNAAP for decades but just recently has found a cure, but American administration officials have deemed it ineffective for many reasons; one being it is not progressive but conservative in nature and therefore ineffective. Many research scientist have predicted this disease would wipeout America in the coming years but were uncertain as to how much time we had left. Other scientists have stated the disease is not as severe as many make it out to be stating that, “effective treatment with treatment from a pill you are to swallow will be the best treatment”. One scientist who requested to remain anonymous has said “ there is a vaccine that has been created and is ready to be distributed but to many people are blocking its distribution.”
If there is a vaccine available why is the American administration blocking it’s distribution so Americans can survive this coming calamity? It appears the American administration has more important things to do then save its people from peril. One must ask, WHY?
0321_GUY on October 7, 2009 at 1:36 PM
One way to find out:
Baucus: “Mr. President, I ask unamimous consent to dispense with the reading”
Sen. Pres.: “Is there objection?”
Any Senator with balls: “I object”
This 3 sentence exchange ensures the bill gets a reading.
I’d pay good money to have this happen.
BobMbx on October 7, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Good point. These bozo’s pass legislation so every friggin thing in the store has three pages of legalese and ingredients that is constituted in the product and they can’t have the a minimum requirement placed on their legislative product. You’d almost think they won’t be under the same health plan they want to stick us with!
chickasaw42 on October 7, 2009 at 1:53 PM
We need some patriotic staffer to leak the bill to someone – anyone – so this thing can be scrutinized by the public. With all the other leaks we’ve had to deal with in the past – how is this bill kept so tight under wraps?
scituate_tgr on October 7, 2009 at 2:29 PM
True!
Here’s one that should really help slow things down!
Sunlight Before Signing: Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them. As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.
Those sneaky Repub Basterds FORCED Obama to claim this before he was elected!
DSchoen on October 7, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Obamalamadindong set the bar at 5 days. Yeah, like everything else this promise has expired. But, for jollies, let’s bring it out of the bat cave and beat the Democrats about the head and shoulders with it when they balk at a mere 3 days. We’re being too polite to them. Hold their feet to their own fires.
{^_^}
herself on October 8, 2009 at 1:39 PM
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