Austin Frakt/The Incidental Economist
By now, you've heard some of the new Republican line on health care reform -- tax, tax, tax, it's a tax -- from our guest this Sunday, former South Carolina party chair Katon Dawson. They're back it it this morning, including on our own The Daily Rundown, when Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom had to mutate it a bit in order to differentiate it from his boss' "Romneycare" in Massachusetts. (You can judge whether or not he was successful.)
If they're counting on winning an election in November on pure semantics (and not, say, actual economics), they're welcome to try. It may well be the only arrow in their quiver. But today, the most extreme version of that talking point has been effectively flushed down.
But the Washington Post's Ezra Klein links today to a helpful chart derived from data reported by Mother Jones' Kevin Drum yesterday (see above). Both echo the same point: no, "Obamacare" isn't the "largest tax increase in the history of the world," as Rush Limbaugh put it last week.
I know: breaking news, Limbaugh was wrong about something. But the key is whether or not his listeners and others who hear that talking point of the mouth of Republicans who, say, represent their district, might find it believable. Too many reporters have been thus far treating his misinformation and bloviation as if it is worthy of honest debate, alleges Talking Points Memo editor and publisher Josh Marshall in a spit-hot-fire post about this yesterday:
I’ve got a question: Just how stupid are all you reporters? No, that’s not a rhetorical question. Whether you want to call the ACA health care mandate a tax or not is mainly a semantic point. It’s a penalty or tax or perhaps a tax penalty on people who refuse to purchase health insurance, even after they received subsidies that make it possible. But Republicans are now saying it’s the ‘biggest tax increase in history’ — either of America or the universe of whatever. But this is demonstrably false.
Marshall then cites the Congressional Budget Office report on the law's mandate, and its determination that it being in place will raise $27 billion over a decade, making it what he calls "one of the tiniest" tax increases in history. Ezra notes that while it does include taxes, agrees, writing that "[i]t’s not even the biggest tax hike in the past 60 years. Or 50 years. Or 30 years. Or 20 years."
Food for thought. Melissa's extended discussion about the Supreme Court's ruling starts below, and continues after the jump.
House Republicans have vowed to repeal President Obama's health care reform, but what efforts will conservatives take to skirt the law at the state level?, Republican consultant Katon Dawson, The Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel, and Think Progress' Igor Volsky join Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss.
Melissa Harris-Perry and her guests analyze Supreme Court Justice John Roberts' motivations in his Supreme Court ruling. New York University professor Kenji Yoshino, Republican consultant Katon Dawson, The Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel, and Think Progress' Igor Volsky join Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss.
Dr. Herbert Smitherman of Wayne State University School of Medicine and The Hill's Karen Finney join the Melissa Harris-Perry conversation on the Affordable Care Act and the health care access it provides.
Melissa Harris-Perry, in her discussion on health care reform, addresses the Association of American Medical Colleges' concern of a growing shortage of doctors in the United States.
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I think there are 3 important points to make in this debate: 1. Semantics: does it really matter whether this is a tax or a penalty or whatever, as the argument above makes? The outcome is the same. 2. OK, fine, call it a tax. Is it any different than other taxes that are used to encourage responsible behavior? Tax exemptions are made for health care spending accounts and retirement savings, among others. People who don't save for these things pay higher taxes in the same way that people without health insurance will pay higher taxes. Seen differently, you get a tax deduction for engaging in socially responsible behavior (such as saving for your medical expenses, saving for retirement, and getting health insurance). 3. It is important not only to consider the impact of imposing a "tax" (which, as shown above, is relatively small), but also to compare it to the cost of NOT insuring everyone. Even if this WAS the largest tax increase in US history, would it cost less than the alternative, which is to let people go uninsured?
Melissa,
While I know you don't write your own blogs, I think this may be something you might be interested in. Another poster on another blog turned me on to a woman called Sara Robinson and one of her articles that seems to explain a lot of things:
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If the link doesn't "stick" just search on "Southern Vaules revived: How a brutal strain of american aristocrats have come to rule America" by Sara Robinson.
I sure would love to hear your insightful take on it.
I have always wondered why the "new" Republicans had trouble understanding the Preamble to our Constitution:
until I read the Confederate Constitution's Preamble"
Do you note that "promote the general welfare" isn't in the Confederate version, but "Almighty God" is?
Could Ms. Robinson be right?
I just want to say that I do not think Melissa should have to appologize for getting upset with that woman on her show yesterday. Melissa was right about what it is like to be poor in the USA today. And that young nice obviously Republican woman showed once again that the Republicans and the people who vote for them simply do NOT GRASP or have any kind of understanding what is it like to be low income/poor in this country especially during the present time. Over and over the Republicans have tried 'The Trickle Down' theory and it has never, ever worked. Why because those who have only want more and almost none of the ever share what they have with other. Even those who proclaim to be Christian. They simply do NOT follow Jesus's teachings and that is truly what it means to be Christian. We NEED many more reporters like her. Ones who stand up for the poor, women, middle class, etc. To me it seems to be that even with the Media we are always the expendable people who really don't matter but they seem to forget that the Middle Class are the TRUE BACKBONE of the wonderful country of ours
I just wanted say that I am proud of Melissa Harris-Perry standing up to that young woman on her show yesterday. It is time that someone stands up the poor, lower income people of this country. So far I haven't seen many Republicans do that. They simply do not have an idea how hard it is to be poor in this country. To me they only want to help the ultra rich and the big corporations, etc. I also want to say when will Americans realize that our Beloved Constitution has separation of Church and State; which means that they do NOT have the right to push their religious beliefs on anyone else. By wanting to regulate what a woman can do with her own body is doing just that! I firmly believe in their having the right to their beliefs but I also have the right to mine. It isn't up to them to be my conscious or save my soul. That is to be between each American and God.