HR 1495

Purpose: To amend the IRS Code of 1986 to make health care coverage more accessible and affordable.

Dr. Ron Paul introduced this bill which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

Health Insurance costs: a. CRDEIT 1. the amount paid by the taxpayer for insurance which constitutes medical care for the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse and dependents
plus 2. the amount contributed to a health savings account of the individual
b. LIMITATION 1. the taxpayer's net income tax
plus 2. the taxpayer's social security taxes

Disposition of unused health benefits: carried forward to the next year (no loss)

Strengthening Health Savings Accounts: the amount allowable as a deduction to a taxpayer under subsection (a) for the taxable year shall not exceed $8000 or $16000 for a joint return

REPEAL OF 7.5% THRESHOLD ON DEDUCTION FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES!

COMMENT: Immediately, anyone who works benefits from the above proposed changes. This is the 1st of a series of bills that Dr. Ron Paul will introduce to the House to take on the health care issue, bypassing Obama's proposal for health care. Write your congressman now to support this bill.

HR 3200

The hot topic of debate these days are the health care reform bills. The front runner in the House of Representatives is HR 3200. What is so bad about health care reform anyway? First and foremost, it is unconstitutional. Article 1, section 1 says that

"All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States..".

That is easy enough to understand, Congress is they only branch of the federal government that has been granted the power by the States to make laws. This does not mean that Congress can make just any law it feels like. Article 1, section 8 lays out the powers of Congress

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."

Herein we find the root problem with health care reform. The federal government has no authority under the Constitution of the United States to legislate health care. If that power has not been given to the federal government, then it belongs to the States respectively. That should be the end of the debate, but unfortunately, it is not. We know our Representatives only consider what we think when enough of us speak up. The rest of the time they hear from special interest groups and lobbyists. Why do we see the CEO of Carillion and pharmaceutical representatives trying to sell us this health care reform? It is suspicious at best. These corporations will be reaping the benefits from health care reform, they would lobby against it otherwise. So often the loudest voices heard have the most dollar signs attached. We must never forget the men and women in Washington are supposed to be working for us, and it is our duty to supervise their activities, just like any "boss" should. We can have the ultimate effect on our elected representatives pocketbook by not re-electing them.

In regards to the actual bill, HR 3200, there is much to be desired. I will not break down every part, this has been done already by many different people. I will provide links and encourage you to read and share what you see.

What does is say about major health care issues?


Page by page breakdown of HR 3200.