Diane Rehm WAMU/NPR will devote her first hour to the 'Cadillac tax'. nt

[Captain Hilts]

[whathehell]

1. Who would "unrec" this thread?...

[Captain Hilts]

2. Oh, I can think of a few names....nt

[freddie mertz]

7. The anti-Union contingent. We have a few, you know.

"Democrats" in name only.

[jasi2006]

9. An idiot would. Her show is one of the best and MOST informative

shows on radio. She is a great interviewer. I also recommend Micihelle Martin's show "Tell Me More" which follows about two hours after Diane's show in DC metro area.

Listen people. You will learn a lot.

[jasi2006]

10. Diane and Michelle Martin have the two most informative and honest

radio shows on the air. Michelle's show is called "Tell Me More." Both Diane and Michelle are great interviewers.

[DrDan]

3. what time does that start? - 10am or 11am

(oh yeah - gave you a "rec" for te heads-up)

[Captain Hilts]

4. 10am EST. nt

[DrDan]

5. drat - a bit early - maybe I can catch the last 30minutes

[Captain Hilts]

6. Folks talking about how healthcare costs are higher on the coasts, big cities...they'll get taxed

more.

Firms with older employees will pay more.

Capt. Hilts: it's kind of a tax on blue states when you think about it.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Argument: Some plans have no deductable. Some costs are high and controllable.

He says that some plans are just too generous.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Why is labor opposed? Labor has bargained for better coverage over higher wages...

They'd rather have security over risk and have bargained for it. This tax will cut into that tax.

Karen Tumulty: skepticism among workers if you lower employer's costs, that will end up in workers' pockets. hard to say if it's true. Another issue is that this tax will be indexed according to 'normal' inflation and HC costs are rising faster than 'normal' inflation.

This bill does a good job of covering people and clamping down on industry. It has very little in it driving at what drives HC costs up. that's why the admin is trying to hold onto this. The prez is making it clear he wants this in the bill.

[Captain Hilts]

12. Why opposition? Most hit not union people. People have expensive plans that provide decent plans..

that actually cover costs or they live in expensive areas.

Women have more expensive plans - blue states, expensive states, and women.

[Captain Hilts]

13. In favor of tax: These plans already get enormous tax breaks from govt.

The C tax is 5% of the existing govt. subsidy to these tax plans. $250 giveaway to employer-sponsored HC insurance.

Rebuttle/Jerry: apply a millionaire's tax. Ask a bit more from those that made out during the boom times. That will bring more in.

Jonathan Gruber: I have no problem with that...a goal of this bill is not to cover the insured, but cost control. It's been endorsed by CBO as a way to get cost control.

Tumulty: if this tax isn't hurting, it isn't changing behavior. It doesn't change the way people buy or use healthcare. You won't get there with an income tax. People at CBO think it would hold down costs. Nobel prize winners.

Gruber: it would change behavior is by having employers lowering the generosity of their healthcare plans that don't relate to healthcare use. Use HC more appropriately.

[Captain Hilts]

14. Cost containment with a shift to less expensive plans to avoid the 40% tax. nt

[Captain Hilts]

15. Active workers will see wage increases. Things are more difficult for retirees. nt

[4_TN_TITANS]

16. Diane Rehm led the charge

that shot down that 'recommendation' that women only get screened for breast cancer after 50.
And, she's quite smokin' hot for 70 yr. old!

?t=1248648284&s=2

:9

[uponit7771]

17. I don't beleive that's a pic of her at 70, if it is then she's blessed