Posted by
Brenda Bee on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 7:33:55 PM
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I have been keeping up with the proposed Wisconsin Universal Health care program for some time now. There have been a plethora of articles on the details, pros and cons, but I would suggest the following site to get a good background on the proposals. http://www.wisconsinhealthproject.org/plan/press.htm
Then go to today’s Washington Post Opinion Journal ( http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010374 ) which has an excellent concise explanation of the costs of such a program that should be a must read for everyone who has been a proponent of Universal Health care. To say it is not going to be cheap is understated to the point of naiveté. The following figures are not those of the opposition, but those of the proponents of the plan so if anything they are optimistic. Even at that the plan as written to included “free” health care for every state resident under age 65 would cost an estimated $15.2 billion if implemented this year and then cost would escalate from there probably by double digits just as medical costs have since Medicare was implemented in 1965. However at 15.2 billion it is still $3 billion more than the state currently collects in ALL income, sales and corporate income taxes.
This first years estimated costs represents an average of $510 a month in higher taxes for every Wisconsin worker to cover the health cre costs only. How much are you now paying for your families health care coverage? Now how much is your employer paying? If the Wisconsin plan goes thru as written employers will no longer provide health care coverage for their employees. Some large union dominated companies who are providing gold lined coverage for their employees are only too happy to dump this burden on the tax payers, but smal;l companies will have a real hardship paying the extra corporate taxes being required even if they are no longer providing for their employees.
Let’s go back to the $3 billion more for just health care costs that Wisconsin residents will have to pay than the state is collecting currently with all of it’s tax resources. Think of that people. $3 billion more than all income now coming in to the state just for health care. Now add all the other costs of state government and you have a truly stupendous debt that tax payers will have to make up. It is estimated that each worker’s state tax liability will be at least 20% of income. This is not even mentioning federal payroll and income taxes you understand, or any other of the dozens of state and federal taxes that are tacked onto just about everything the politicos can think to tax. It is now estimated that the average worker pays out 40% of his income in state, federal and all the other "hidden" taxes. If this is the case now then adding the additional 20% for health care to the resident of Wisconsin will have approximately 60% of their income going to taxes.
But wait! It gets better, or worse depending on your outlook. In order to get all the funds the state will need for the Universal Health care plus all the rest of State government the legislators are proposing : “Employees and businesses would pay for the plan by sharing the cost of a new 14.5% employment tax on wages. Wisconsin businesses would have to compete with out-of-state businesses and foreign rivals while shouldering a 29.8% combined federal-state payroll tax, nearly double the 15.3% payroll tax paid by non-Wisconsin firms for Social Security and Medicare combined.” With this burden how many new companies will find Wisconsin a good place to locate to or build a new plant? With this burden how many companies will decide to leave the state for new more business friendly locations?
And wait again, it gets better. You know all thos so called “hidden taxes , well hold on to your hate because Wisconsin legislators propose : “Governor Jim Doyle proposed and the ….. Senate has also approved, including a $1.25 a pack increase in the cigarette tax, a 10% hike in the corporate tax, and new fees on cars, trucks, hospitals, real estate transactions, oil companies and dry cleaners.”
Along with companies not relocating to Wisconsin, and others leaving the state, you better believe Wisconsin will become the home of choice for those who are chronically ill, and a haven for free loaders. There is no clause that you must be employed to have this healthcare dividend, only that you be a resident for 12 months.
Please read this article. I do believe you will find it illuminating and perhaps then you will better see where some of us who are opposed to universal healthcare are coming from. Then perhaps we all can get together and find a program that will care for our neediest while not beggaring ourselves and bankrupting our nation. Sincerely, BB |