Scott Walker’s biennial budget includes “death tax” targeting Medicaid recipients

[Scuba]

Walker continues to punish the poor. His base loves red meat.


http://bloggingblue.com/2013/08/19/scott-walkers-biennial-budget-includes-death-tax-targeting-medicaid-recipients/

Among the little-known provisions of the biennial state budget proposed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker and rubber-stamped by Republicans in the Legislature is a provision buried in the budget that would drastically expand the state’s ability to claim dead couples’ joint property – even if the assets are protected in trusts.

The language is designed to help the state recover Medicaid money spent on a number of long-term care programs, most notably Family Care, which helps keep disabled and elderly people out of costly nursing homes.

[...]

Federal rules also prohibit people from divesting or giving away property to make themselves poor enough to qualify for a long-term Medicaid program. However, the regulations allow applicants to transfer some assets, such as interest in a business, at less than market value without penalty.

The Wisconsin budget eliminates that exemption, which means a Wisconsin resident seeking Medicaid coverage for long-term care would have to sell his or her assets, such as a share of a family business or farmland, for full market value even if it was going to a child.

[atreides1]

1. What an evil fuck

I'll bet he got the original idea from his buddy Paul Ryan!

[Bennyboy]

2. They do this in California...

My Mom died and they sent me a letter telling me that any and all assets were to be seized for repayment of Medi-Cal. Thankfully, I knew this and told her to give everything to relatives. And her estate was gifted to relatives then returned to the family (me) without all that.

[Scuba]

3. Yet they despise the estate tax. Their greed is without limit.

[madrchsod]

4. i guess dumb ass thinks this will only effect democrats...

i bet there is a whole hell of a lot of folks wishing they didn't vote for walker in the recall...

[snacker]

5. Another article about this:

http://www.politicususa.com/2013/08/19/scott-walkers-budget-marriage-danger-state-sieze-martial-property.html

[Scuba]

6. Thanks snacker.

[ewagner]

7. Slipped it through in the budget....

nice guys (and gals) in that party.

[EC]

8. While the rich hide all their assets

to skip paying taxes and for benefits they should be paying for.

[hue]

9. MSM needs to blast this out to Wisconsinites!!!

[Javaman]

10. See it's like this...

tea baggers are funny. The supposed "Obama death panels" (which never existed in the first place) are bad. Ranting crazy disrupting meetings bad.

but an actual death tax imposed by a repuke is met by...crickes.

[Enthusiast]

11. This evil fucking Walker has got to go!

[Thor_MN]

12. Does this happen before or after putting them on the train?

[dballance]

13. So in WI, Catholic Church transferring assets to a trust to avoid laws/lawsuits is okay, but....

Elderly couples trying to transfer assets to a trust to keep out of a nursing home is bad? Just wanted to make sure I got it.

[Rain Mcloud]

14. Its 4:00 AM,the phone rings!

"Mr.and Mrs.Johnson?"

"Yes."

"This is the State Treasurer's Office,I work in the Lotto Disbursement Department".
(continues)"Oh My God,We have been trying to find You and your time is almost up!"

"Who is this? Did George put You up to this? I'll kill'im!"

"What I meant to say is,Your time is almost up to collect Your Jack Pot,You Are A WINNER!"
"You must hurry though,the prize must be claimed before 6:00 AM today at the Treasurer's Office!"

"George,I know that's You and I'm going to call the Police,Four inna Gawdammed morning!"
"No wait I'm gonna come over there and shoot You Myself,You little Bastard!"

"Please Sir,if You hurry before the traffic gets bad around Your beautiful Dairy Farm on 500 verdant acres,You could still claim Your Brazillion Dollar Badger Prize Jackpot!"

[historylovr]

15. K & R

This is pure evil and malice.