We are a nation of tax cheats. In 2001, the difference between what Americans and businesses owed in taxes and what they actually paid voluntarily was $345 billion.
The enormous amount, known as the “tax gap” has been vexing politicians and IRS bureaucrats ever since it was quantified in 2005. Of course, one way to increase U.S. …
After claims from insurance companies that they plan to dramatically increase premiums this year because of the Affordable Care Act, the White House fired off a threat to the industry’s main lobbying group today.
Writing to the head of America’s Health Insurance Plans, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said …
Despite earlier predictions that health care might not be the central component in this year’s congressional campaigns, candidates and outside groups are investing millions in TV ads touting and vilifying the new law. Two new ad campaigns each reportedly costing $2 million launched today.
This ad is being put out by the pro-reform …
Despite what you may have heard from Republican critics of health care reform, the new law may actually be good for people who work for small businesses. I’ve written about this previously, but the view is bolstered by a study out today from the RAND Corporation, which used a microsimulation model to predict how employers will react to …
Two Gallup polls this week confirmed what’s become obvious – Democrats seem headed for an electoral bloodbath in this year’s congressional mid-term elections.
First, Gallup announced Republicans have the largest lead in the outfit’s history when voters are asked which party they prefer in the upcoming congressional elections. …
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty hasn’t announced he’s running for president, but his recent actions regarding health care reform certainly seem to suggest he is.
Today, the governor signed an executive order prohibiting state offices from applying for voluntary federal grant programs created by the Affordable Care Act – unless they …
The Congressional Budget Office said in a recent letter that repealing the parts of the Affordable Care Act, including changes to Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, would increase the deficit by $455 billion. The CBO released the figure this week in a letter responding to a request from Republican Sen. Mike …
By now, most of us can agree that Democrats have largely failed to use health care reform as a political boost. The new law remains unpopular with half or more of the U.S. population and it will be one of several critical issues in the upcoming mid-term elections, particularly in districts where freshman, Blue Dog or vulnerable Democrats …
How much confidence does the lead filer of the lawsuit against the individual mandate have that it will prevail? Virginia, whose attorney general and governor are leading the charge, at the same time is taking definitive steps to make sure that federal health reform is implemented effectively within it’s borders.
Yesterday, Gov. Bob …
Robert Pear of the New York Times today picks up an unsurprising, but important, new study showing that the recession has caused Americans to cut back on medical care far more than in countries with universal health care.
This is to be expected. In tough economic times, even health care costs are considered discretionary for …
Today, Republicans are celebrating the fact that Missouri voters just overwhelmingly approved a state anti-health reform ballot initiative. The measure, which says Missouri residents can’t be required to maintain health insurance, is largely symbolic since federal law trumps state law. There was almost no organized opposition to the …
Like it or not, the Affordable Care Act is now law. Barring full repeal or a court finding that it’s unconstitutional – impossible in the near term and fairly unlikely in the long term – there’s not much those opposed to the law can do to resist it.
But yet, some of the people who may be in charge of enforcing the law are telling …
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is feeling pretty good today. After using his political power as the state’s Republican leader and his veto power as governor, Pawlenty has notched a massive state budget victory that Politico’s Ben Smith says lays the groundwork for the governor’s assumed 2012 presidential run.
Refusing to compromise …
