The Evening Brief: Texas Headlines for Jan. 24, 2013
New in The Texas Tribune
• Bill Proposing Tax Break Targets Contraception Rule: "A bill filed Thursday in the Texas House would give religiously based businesses a state tax break if the businesses were forced to comply with the federal government’s mandate that employers provide contraception coverage."
• Lawmakers Hope to Tap Rainy Day Fund, Duck Spending Cap: "The state's top budget authority, the Legislative Budget Board, says lawmakers will have trouble accessing billions of dollars in the Rainy Day Fund without busting the state's spending cap."
• Will Marijuana Laws in Other States Prompt Change in Texas?: "Water, transportation ...
Comments (14)
David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook
hyperbole much
Nick De La Cruz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I know Rep. Strickland would make the same argument for Muslim and Jewish objections...... or not.
Jon Perry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Stickland's bill won't fly. I believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster and it is against our religious convictions to pay any taxes at all. Ah, the bullshit grandstanding is just beginning.
Bruce Davis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That's curious, because many European companies will not relocate to the USA because the USA does not have universal health care.
Judy Burns via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What is appalling is that employees have to put up with an employer who wants to dictate how and when they will use their insurance. If the company folds, I hope it is because people like me are boycotting it.
Sergio Jaramillo via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a ridiculous statement. Insurance companies have been covering viagra for a long time, but somehow asking them to cover sexual health for a woman is controversial. These retrogrades need to go.
Rick Archer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's appalling what they've done to education. That's a stranglehold.
Erin N Michael Copeland via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Boycott Hobby Lobby and the like and they won't have anything to write off. Good riddance.
Blaze Wynndham via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's appalling that business owners can't keep their religious convictions to themselves. If the state wants to give them a tax break, that is just one more reason not to spend my money there.
Carly Rose Jackson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If businesses weren't required to provide health insurance, individuals could purchase whatever insurance they chose.
Cindy Rhoton Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yea and if it weren't for unions you would all be working 90 hours a week And working for pennies. It is very unfortunate that employers are not willing to give benefits to their workers.
David Spratt
A short primer for all those low information people out there on the health care act. This will help you save a lot of money and still be covered when you need it.
1. If you are young and healthy do not buy the insurance. Just pay the $700 "Tax." This will save you somewhere between $3,000 AND $4,000 per year.If by chance you do need medical care then you can buy in at that time ,, since pre-exiting conditions are covered.
2. Since the IRS is the enforcement arm of ObamaCare. If you do not want to pay the tax then just increase your dependants and have less held from your check. They have already stated they will not pursue payment for these small amounts. The only way they will be able to collect is to take it out of the refund,,, no refund ,,, no pay.
3. There is a provision for smokers to be charged up to 50% on top of their regular premium starting in 2014. Here again just pay the fine. If you get sick then you can opt into the program and be fully covered at that time.
4. Note that in the opinion of SCOTUS it states that this is considered a tax since it is not overly punitive. The small amount actually is a disincentive for people to purchase insurance. The government cannot raise this amount by any significant number so as to make it punitive as this would surly invite claims that it is a penalty now and not simply a tax. This argument ,, if won,,, would make the law Unconstitutional , as it would become a penalty or a fine and not a tax. Thus there is no incentive to purchase a private policy that may well cost $5,000 OR MORE when paying the $700 tax suffices to be in compliance.
5. All in all this whole law encourages people not to buy insurance. What is the point? Medicare is still there just like it has always been. Everyone has health care already,,, they just do not have Health Insurance. There is no point in buying it. If you get sick you just sign up then . After you get well you cancel it. The insurance companies are not allowed to charge punitive rates for pre-exiting conditions so you can just buy it when you need it and cancel it when you do not need it. Very simple. Hope this has helped take the confusion out of whether to buy or not to buy.
Kelley Smith via Texas Tribune on Facebook
interesting & sort of related...only when it's convenient. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/catholic-hospitals-argument-in-colorado-court-that-fetuses-arent-people-captivates-the-internet
Randy Case via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Apparently fetuses are people unless they're not.