How the democrats are planning on paying for socialized healthcare: a national sales tax, taxing soda and a “surtax” on people making over $250,000.

By the end of this week, House Democrats may have answered the biggest question looming in the socialized healthcare debate – how they plan to pay for their socialization. According to The Hill:

Leadership aides stress that no final decision has been made on how to pay the tab. The Democrats on Rangel’s committee will hold a marathon meeting all day Tuesday where healthcare and the “pay-for,” as it’s called, are sure to come up.

A large portion is expected to come from reductions in Medicare and Medicaid. But that won’t pay for the full overhaul. As for raising money, ideas have included a national sales tax, taxing soda and a “surtax” on people making more than $250,000.

In addition to that, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Caucus Chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) and Vice-chair Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) will hold six “listening sessions” that break rank-and-file members out by region. The three leaders will take concerns and ideas from the sessions’ members back to the leadership in preparation for markup next week.

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July 7, 2009 · Filed Under General Politics


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