Obamacare Raises Taxes, Hurts Employers, and Costs Government Money it Doesn't Have

There are many reasons other than philosophical (see my post Fascism Healthcare) for me opposing the Obamacare legislation that is still moving through Congress. It is not yet a forgone conclusion that it will pass, and it is the most important piece of legislation moving through Congress right now, so indulge me a bit more while I lay out more reasons why you and I need to oppose this legislation.

President Barack Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright opposes this legislation due to what it doesn't do, but I oppose this legislation for what it does do- it raises taxes, hurts employers who provide healthcare coverage right now for their employees, and will cost national and state governments a lot of money that they don't have.

In the Senate version (and probably in the final version) is a new tax on employers. Called by some the "Cadillac tax", it is a tax increase of 40 percent annually on employer-sponsored insurance policies that many businesses provide. According to the White House, it is a tax increase of over $150 billion that families and employers would have to pay for in order to provide for Obamacare- which is to limit competition, increase regulation, raise costs, employ more bureaucrats, and provide more welfare. Raising taxes on families and employers will not help our nation and led our nation forward.

Obamacare will also hurt employers who provide healthcare coverage right now to their employees. Obama and Pelosi attempted to play off one class against another and tax the rich to distribute that money to the poor, but their legislation is so bad that it ended up taxing the middle class and labor unions too. According to the AFL-CIO, 31 million insured employees are going to be hit by increased taxes by Obamacare, including members of labor unions like the UAW or MEA. As the president of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, says "This (healthcare bill) is a policy designed to benefit the elites."

Finally, Obamacare will cost government a lot of money. Most people are focusing on the cost to the national government (which will be 1 trillion dollars after taxing for 10 years and providing service for 6), but I am again (see my earlier post Healthcare Bill Makes States Fund Expanded Medicaid and Destroys Michigan's State Budget) going to point out that states are going to be paying a lot of money as well- money that they don't have. According to top state economists, next year's budget for the government of the State of Michigan will likely fall about $1.6 billion short. Last year Michigan made significant cuts to college grants, Medicaid reimbursements, Corrections and local municipalities, and is looking at serious cuts across the board- before Obamacare passes. After Obamacare passes, Medicaid rolls will expand, the state will have to match those grants, and it will cost a lot more money. These policies are not made in a vacuum folks- if Obamacare passes, hundreds of teachers around the state will be let go as a result- their is only so much money to go around.

Obamacare raises taxes, hurts employers who provide healthcare coverage right now for their employees, and will cost national and state governments a lot of money that they don't have- and that is why I oppose it.