Fw: Your Breaking News: H.R. 3590, the Senate Health Care bill

[Guest guest]

Congressman Mark Kirk e-NewsletterHere is U.S. Representative Mark Kirk's take

on the new health care bill...

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Your Breaking News: H.R. 3590, the Senate Health Care bill

View this email with images.

Dear Friends,

Following the House of Representatives vote on H.R. 3590, the

Senate Health Care bill, I want to provide you with an update on this important

issue facing our state and country. I support more centrist reforms to lower

health care costs but oppose the Senate bill. I want to tell you why.

More Centrist Reforms Were Rejected

I strongly support reforms to lower the cost of health

insurance and cover Americans with pre-existing conditions. That is why I

authored the Medical Rights and Reform Act, H.R. 3790. Under our centrist Reform

Act, we cover Americans with pre-existing conditions and advance three major

reforms:

1.. The Medical Rights Act: Under our bill, Congress shall

make no law interfering with the personal decisions that you make with your

doctor,

2.. Lawsuit Reform: By applying the lawsuit reforms

(recently eliminated in Illinois) similar to successful California reforms, we

could reduce defensive medicine, saving over $200 billion annually, and

3.. Granting Americans Interstate Rights: Our bill grants

the right to all Americans to buy health coverage from any state in the union,

especially if you find a plan that is less expensive or more flexible for your

family or small business. This improves choice and competition for each

American.

Unfortunately, the Congressional leadership did not permit a

debate on our bill. Instead, the House was only allowed one vote on the health

care bill adopted by the Senate. I opposed this bill but it passed by a vote of

219 to 212 and will shortly be signed into law by the President.

Senate Health Care Bill Overview

Under the Senate bill, the Congress will increase spending by

$1.2 trillion, including $940 billion for new subsidies, $144 billion for new

mandates, $70 billion to administer the bill and $41 billion in unrelated

spending. To attempt to pay for the bill, Congress will raise taxes, cut

Medicare and borrow a historic amount of money. To pass the Senate, the bill

also included the “Louisiana Purchaseâ€, “Cornhusker Kickback†and

“Gatoraide†that advantaged Louisiana, Nebraska and Florida over the people

of Illinois.

Raising Insurance Premiums on Illinois Families

While the American people overwhelmingly want to lower health

insurance costs, the bill increases costs because it requires Americans to buy

health insurance that include new mandates for coverage. According to the

Administration, individual insurance premiums will increase by 10% for over

600,000 people in Illinois. On average, Illinois individuals currently pay

$2,499 annually for insurance. Under the bill, costs will go up at least $150 a

month to a level of $4,299 annually.

On March 4, the Chicago Tribune reported that for “more than

half-million consumers in individual health plans, base rates will go up from

8.5 percent to more than 60 percent.†The non-partisan Congressional Budget

Office reported that the bill’s provisions that double the tax on health

insurers, drug makers and medical devices will all be passed on to patients in

the form of higher health costs and rising insurance premiums.

Raising Taxes on Illinois Families

The bill imposes 12 new federal taxes, imposing over $500

billion in new payments to the government, including over $23 billion in taxes

on the people of Illinois. Among the new taxes was a new “Individual Mandate

Tax†(IMT) of $2,250 per household or 2% of household income. The bill

increases the Medicare payroll tax and does not adjust this for inflation.

Therefore, like the infamous Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), the new Medicare tax

will soon reach most middle class families as inflation pushes more Americans

into its bracket.

The bill also increases the capital gains tax. Most economists

worry that too many businesses plan for the short-term, hurting long-term

economic growth. That is why investments which are held for longer periods of

time pay a lower capital gains tax. The Senate bill reverses this wise policy by

imposing a new 3.8% tax on capital gains, raising the rate from 15% to 23.8% by

2013.

Raising Taxes on Illinois Small Business

Half of all people employed in Illinois work in a small

business and over 80% of job losses during this Great Recession have been from

small business employers. Nevertheless, this legislation requires the federal

government to levy a new $52 billion tax on small businesses, even though

unemployment now tops 12% in Illinois. The bill begins a new $2,000 tax on small

business with over 50 employees. Over 21,600 small businesses in Illinois could

be subject to this new tax. This tax applies to part-time as well as full-time

workers. The follow-up Reconciliation Bill also includes an unprecedented

extension of the Medicare tax to all non-wage income.

Putting Illinois Jobs at Risk

Both Americans for Tax Reform and the Heritage Foundation

estimated that the new taxes and Medicare cuts in the bill would cost over

600,000 job opportunities per year or an estimated 26,042 fewer Illinois jobs.

The bill also has a number of budget gimmicks to hide spending. Once the Social

Security Trust Fund, long-term health care and student loan gimmicks are

removed, the bill adds $755 billion to the federal deficit or $2,460 in new debt

for each man, woman, and child.

Here is a look at the estimated national job losses under the

bill:

Sector

Jobs

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

-5,441

Mining

-5,478

Construction

-43,316

Manufacturing

-105,229

Wholesale trade

-47,663

Retail trade

-84,339

Transportation and warehousing

-36,806

Utilities

-5,271

Information

-26,342

Financial Activities

-77,269

Professional and business services

-132,596

Educational services

-32,102

Leisure and hospitality

-49,682

Other services

-46,564

Total

-698,098

Cuts to Senior Health Care in Illinois under Medicare

The legislation stands for the principle that we should cut

senior health care under Medicare to fund a new entitlement spending program.

Over 40 million seniors depend on Medicare for their health care. Under the

Senate bill, the federal government would cut over $500 billion from Medicare.

This includes cutting over $200 billion from Medicare Advantage, cancelling the

Medicare choice of over 120,000 Illinois seniors.

Here is a summary of the top Medicare cuts:

Medicare Advantage -$202 Billion

Home Health -$39 Billion

Medicare Part B -$25

Billion

Hospital DSH Payments -$25 Billion

Medicare Part D -$10 Billion

Medical Imaging -$1 Billion

Preventative Services -$700 Million

Durable Medical Equipment -$1 Billion

Power-Driven Wheelchairs -$800 Million

Hospice -$100 Million

Medicare Improvement Fund -$20 Billion

Medigap -$100

Million

Total Medicare Cuts

-$523 Billion

Increasing the Debt of Illinois

Under the federal Medicaid program for the poor, states must

pay half of all costs. As you know, the State of Illinois has one of the highest

deficits of any state, totaling over $12 billion. Spending on the Illinois

Medicaid program rose 65% from $8 billion in 2001 to $13 billion in 2008 to now

cover 2.4 million people. Under the Senate Health Care bill, Illinois would have

to cover an additional 400,000 people, adding an additional $1 billion to the

state’s deficit over five years.

Health care under Medicaid is already deteriorating. Over

9,000 doctors in Illinois refuse to accept Medicaid patients (28% nationwide),

in part because it takes Illinois over 100 days to pay for services.

Expansion of the IRS

About the only jobs created by the legislation would be at the

IRS. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the IRS would

need to hire over 16,000 people – over 700 just in Illinois -- to audit the

American people and impose the new taxes and mandates of the bill. New IRS

agents would verify if you have acceptable authority, fine you up to 2% of your

income for failure to prove that you have purchased “minimum essential

coverage,†confiscate your tax refund and conduct audits. Under the bill,

nearly half of the new individual mandate taxes will be paid by Americans

earning less than $66,150 for a family of four.

Conclusion

I voted against this legislation because it costs Illinois

jobs, raises taxes and deepens the debt our children must one day pay.

Unfortunately, the bill passed the House and is ready for the President’s

signature into law. I wish that a more modest set of reforms could have been

approved that did not have such harsh consequences for our economy.

In the coming days, I will outline policies and legislation

that will reduce spending, lower the debt and prevent new taxes on the American

people. While we did not prevail in this contest, I will continue to work and

ensure a strong economy and bright future for every Illinois citizen.

Please feel free to forward this email along to other

interested constituents or post it on your Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace pages.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me at 847-940-0202 or via my Web site

should issues of concern to you come before the Congress.

Very truly yours,

Mark Kirk

Member of Congress

Washington, DC Office - 1030 Longworth HOB . Washington, D.C.

20515 . Phone: (202) 225-4835

Northbrook Office - 707 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 350 .

Northbrook, IL 60062 . Phone: ( 847) 940-0202

Waukegan Office – 20 S. MLK Drive . Waukegan, IL 60085 .

Phone: (847) 662-0101

If you do not wish to receive future emails from Congressman Mark

Kirk, click here.

[Guest guest]

Congressman Mark Kirk e-NewsletterHere is U.S. Representative Mark Kirk's take

on the new health care bill...

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Your Breaking News: H.R. 3590, the Senate Health Care bill

View this email with images.

Dear Friends,

Following the House of Representatives vote on H.R. 3590, the

Senate Health Care bill, I want to provide you with an update on this important

issue facing our state and country. I support more centrist reforms to lower

health care costs but oppose the Senate bill. I want to tell you why.

More Centrist Reforms Were Rejected

I strongly support reforms to lower the cost of health

insurance and cover Americans with pre-existing conditions. That is why I

authored the Medical Rights and Reform Act, H.R. 3790. Under our centrist Reform

Act, we cover Americans with pre-existing conditions and advance three major

reforms:

1.. The Medical Rights Act: Under our bill, Congress shall

make no law interfering with the personal decisions that you make with your

doctor,

2.. Lawsuit Reform: By applying the lawsuit reforms

(recently eliminated in Illinois) similar to successful California reforms, we

could reduce defensive medicine, saving over $200 billion annually, and

3.. Granting Americans Interstate Rights: Our bill grants

the right to all Americans to buy health coverage from any state in the union,

especially if you find a plan that is less expensive or more flexible for your

family or small business. This improves choice and competition for each

American.

Unfortunately, the Congressional leadership did not permit a

debate on our bill. Instead, the House was only allowed one vote on the health

care bill adopted by the Senate. I opposed this bill but it passed by a vote of

219 to 212 and will shortly be signed into law by the President.

Senate Health Care Bill Overview

Under the Senate bill, the Congress will increase spending by

$1.2 trillion, including $940 billion for new subsidies, $144 billion for new

mandates, $70 billion to administer the bill and $41 billion in unrelated

spending. To attempt to pay for the bill, Congress will raise taxes, cut

Medicare and borrow a historic amount of money. To pass the Senate, the bill

also included the “Louisiana Purchaseâ€, “Cornhusker Kickback†and

“Gatoraide†that advantaged Louisiana, Nebraska and Florida over the people

of Illinois.

Raising Insurance Premiums on Illinois Families

While the American people overwhelmingly want to lower health

insurance costs, the bill increases costs because it requires Americans to buy

health insurance that include new mandates for coverage. According to the

Administration, individual insurance premiums will increase by 10% for over

600,000 people in Illinois. On average, Illinois individuals currently pay

$2,499 annually for insurance. Under the bill, costs will go up at least $150 a

month to a level of $4,299 annually.

On March 4, the Chicago Tribune reported that for “more than

half-million consumers in individual health plans, base rates will go up from

8.5 percent to more than 60 percent.†The non-partisan Congressional Budget

Office reported that the bill’s provisions that double the tax on health

insurers, drug makers and medical devices will all be passed on to patients in

the form of higher health costs and rising insurance premiums.

Raising Taxes on Illinois Families

The bill imposes 12 new federal taxes, imposing over $500

billion in new payments to the government, including over $23 billion in taxes

on the people of Illinois. Among the new taxes was a new “Individual Mandate

Tax†(IMT) of $2,250 per household or 2% of household income. The bill

increases the Medicare payroll tax and does not adjust this for inflation.

Therefore, like the infamous Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), the new Medicare tax

will soon reach most middle class families as inflation pushes more Americans

into its bracket.

The bill also increases the capital gains tax. Most economists

worry that too many businesses plan for the short-term, hurting long-term

economic growth. That is why investments which are held for longer periods of

time pay a lower capital gains tax. The Senate bill reverses this wise policy by

imposing a new 3.8% tax on capital gains, raising the rate from 15% to 23.8% by

2013.

Raising Taxes on Illinois Small Business

Half of all people employed in Illinois work in a small

business and over 80% of job losses during this Great Recession have been from

small business employers. Nevertheless, this legislation requires the federal

government to levy a new $52 billion tax on small businesses, even though

unemployment now tops 12% in Illinois. The bill begins a new $2,000 tax on small

business with over 50 employees. Over 21,600 small businesses in Illinois could

be subject to this new tax. This tax applies to part-time as well as full-time

workers. The follow-up Reconciliation Bill also includes an unprecedented

extension of the Medicare tax to all non-wage income.

Putting Illinois Jobs at Risk

Both Americans for Tax Reform and the Heritage Foundation

estimated that the new taxes and Medicare cuts in the bill would cost over

600,000 job opportunities per year or an estimated 26,042 fewer Illinois jobs.

The bill also has a number of budget gimmicks to hide spending. Once the Social

Security Trust Fund, long-term health care and student loan gimmicks are

removed, the bill adds $755 billion to the federal deficit or $2,460 in new debt

for each man, woman, and child.

Here is a look at the estimated national job losses under the

bill:

Sector

Jobs

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

-5,441

Mining

-5,478

Construction

-43,316

Manufacturing

-105,229

Wholesale trade

-47,663

Retail trade

-84,339

Transportation and warehousing

-36,806

Utilities

-5,271

Information

-26,342

Financial Activities

-77,269

Professional and business services

-132,596

Educational services

-32,102

Leisure and hospitality

-49,682

Other services

-46,564

Total

-698,098

Cuts to Senior Health Care in Illinois under Medicare

The legislation stands for the principle that we should cut

senior health care under Medicare to fund a new entitlement spending program.

Over 40 million seniors depend on Medicare for their health care. Under the

Senate bill, the federal government would cut over $500 billion from Medicare.

This includes cutting over $200 billion from Medicare Advantage, cancelling the

Medicare choice of over 120,000 Illinois seniors.

Here is a summary of the top Medicare cuts:

Medicare Advantage -$202 Billion

Home Health -$39 Billion

Medicare Part B -$25

Billion

Hospital DSH Payments -$25 Billion

Medicare Part D -$10 Billion

Medical Imaging -$1 Billion

Preventative Services -$700 Million

Durable Medical Equipment -$1 Billion

Power-Driven Wheelchairs -$800 Million

Hospice -$100 Million

Medicare Improvement Fund -$20 Billion

Medigap -$100

Million

Total Medicare Cuts

-$523 Billion

Increasing the Debt of Illinois

Under the federal Medicaid program for the poor, states must

pay half of all costs. As you know, the State of Illinois has one of the highest

deficits of any state, totaling over $12 billion. Spending on the Illinois

Medicaid program rose 65% from $8 billion in 2001 to $13 billion in 2008 to now

cover 2.4 million people. Under the Senate Health Care bill, Illinois would have

to cover an additional 400,000 people, adding an additional $1 billion to the

state’s deficit over five years.

Health care under Medicaid is already deteriorating. Over

9,000 doctors in Illinois refuse to accept Medicaid patients (28% nationwide),

in part because it takes Illinois over 100 days to pay for services.

Expansion of the IRS

About the only jobs created by the legislation would be at the

IRS. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the IRS would

need to hire over 16,000 people – over 700 just in Illinois -- to audit the

American people and impose the new taxes and mandates of the bill. New IRS

agents would verify if you have acceptable authority, fine you up to 2% of your

income for failure to prove that you have purchased “minimum essential

coverage,†confiscate your tax refund and conduct audits. Under the bill,

nearly half of the new individual mandate taxes will be paid by Americans

earning less than $66,150 for a family of four.

Conclusion

I voted against this legislation because it costs Illinois

jobs, raises taxes and deepens the debt our children must one day pay.

Unfortunately, the bill passed the House and is ready for the President’s

signature into law. I wish that a more modest set of reforms could have been

approved that did not have such harsh consequences for our economy.

In the coming days, I will outline policies and legislation

that will reduce spending, lower the debt and prevent new taxes on the American

people. While we did not prevail in this contest, I will continue to work and

ensure a strong economy and bright future for every Illinois citizen.

Please feel free to forward this email along to other

interested constituents or post it on your Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace pages.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me at 847-940-0202 or via my Web site

should issues of concern to you come before the Congress.

Very truly yours,

Mark Kirk

Member of Congress

Washington, DC Office - 1030 Longworth HOB . Washington, D.C.

20515 . Phone: (202) 225-4835

Northbrook Office - 707 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 350 .

Northbrook, IL 60062 . Phone: ( 847) 940-0202

Waukegan Office – 20 S. MLK Drive . Waukegan, IL 60085 .

Phone: (847) 662-0101

If you do not wish to receive future emails from Congressman Mark

Kirk, click here.