Will the last person in Congress turn the lights out?
Mar 25 // Mar 11 2017
So that didn’t happen.
Two weeks ago, on March 11, the President tweeted the following:
“We are making great progress with healthcare. ObamaCare is imploding and will only get worse. Republicans coming together to get job done!”
Yesterday, as Republican leadership recognized they lacked the support required to pass the legislation, the bill was pulled from the House vote, and the issue has been tabled (or abandoned, depending on where you read your news) for now.
We’re a little perplexed at Two Weeks Ago News, and not just because we decided to read the bill in our spare time. (Should you decide to do the same, you may want to start with the sections we’ve added in the boxes below. Please write or call when you’ve translated them.)
No, we’re confused because the celebration going on from many who opposed this law is muted to say the least. Yes, the ACA was retained and many who supported and continue to support that legislation were delighted with the outcome. Others who may favor healthcare reform recognized that the Republican plan as submitted was needlessly rushed to the floor for a vote. Instead of methodically and rationally revisiting any of the plans previously offered by Republicans that addressed what they saw as the challenges of the ACA, and then possibly amending them as needed or warranted, it was shoved out, front and center, to the American people and to our representatives in Washington, and then almost as quickly, yanked off stage. So yes, those people are celebrating as well. Sort of.
We're additionally confounded because in our view, everyone is celebrating the wrong thing. It isn't that one party triumphed and one lost. It isn't that one set of politicians looked irrelevant and another set looked victorious. It's this: Our system of government worked. The one we were all taught in grade school. THAT should be the headline being shouted and celebrated by everyone who is prone to social media outrage about our new President and his agenda these days. IT WORKED!
Yesterday, a law did not get passed simply because a majority holds the House or Senate. (That’s happened more than a few times on both sides of the aisle in the last 8 years.) Nope, apparently even in this age of what many people see as scary, dangerous new people in Washington, having a majority is not enough. (This one never even came up for a vote!)
Just like in the good old days, it would appear that a law gets passed because it makes a compelling case to enough of the legislators for that to happen. In this case, a number of thoughtful, centered, responsive Republican legislators reviewed the proposed legislation, listened to the feedback of the people who elected them, and chose not to support it with a “Yes” vote. Are some of their constituents aggravated by that? Absolutely. Are some celebrating the independent thinking they’d hoped for in Washington? Absolutely.
We call the actions of those legislators a courageous thing, given the divisive and bitter climate that surrounds us, and a wonderful thing.
Our suspicians? Here’s what’s next:
We can dream.
So – onto tax reform. We’ll see if a pattern emerges.
As promised, some of our favorite passage from H.R 277: American Health Care Reform Act. (We thought healthcare was one word by why quibble?)
TWAN tip: These offer the most fun if you read them aloud. Our favorite part is how they all begin with: "In general." That's fantastic. Enjoy.
So that didn’t happen.
Two weeks ago, on March 11, the President tweeted the following:
“We are making great progress with healthcare. ObamaCare is imploding and will only get worse. Republicans coming together to get job done!”
Yesterday, as Republican leadership recognized they lacked the support required to pass the legislation, the bill was pulled from the House vote, and the issue has been tabled (or abandoned, depending on where you read your news) for now.
We’re a little perplexed at Two Weeks Ago News, and not just because we decided to read the bill in our spare time. (Should you decide to do the same, you may want to start with the sections we’ve added in the boxes below. Please write or call when you’ve translated them.)
No, we’re confused because the celebration going on from many who opposed this law is muted to say the least. Yes, the ACA was retained and many who supported and continue to support that legislation were delighted with the outcome. Others who may favor healthcare reform recognized that the Republican plan as submitted was needlessly rushed to the floor for a vote. Instead of methodically and rationally revisiting any of the plans previously offered by Republicans that addressed what they saw as the challenges of the ACA, and then possibly amending them as needed or warranted, it was shoved out, front and center, to the American people and to our representatives in Washington, and then almost as quickly, yanked off stage. So yes, those people are celebrating as well. Sort of.
We're additionally confounded because in our view, everyone is celebrating the wrong thing. It isn't that one party triumphed and one lost. It isn't that one set of politicians looked irrelevant and another set looked victorious. It's this: Our system of government worked. The one we were all taught in grade school. THAT should be the headline being shouted and celebrated by everyone who is prone to social media outrage about our new President and his agenda these days. IT WORKED!
Yesterday, a law did not get passed simply because a majority holds the House or Senate. (That’s happened more than a few times on both sides of the aisle in the last 8 years.) Nope, apparently even in this age of what many people see as scary, dangerous new people in Washington, having a majority is not enough. (This one never even came up for a vote!)
Just like in the good old days, it would appear that a law gets passed because it makes a compelling case to enough of the legislators for that to happen. In this case, a number of thoughtful, centered, responsive Republican legislators reviewed the proposed legislation, listened to the feedback of the people who elected them, and chose not to support it with a “Yes” vote. Are some of their constituents aggravated by that? Absolutely. Are some celebrating the independent thinking they’d hoped for in Washington? Absolutely.
We call the actions of those legislators a courageous thing, given the divisive and bitter climate that surrounds us, and a wonderful thing.
Our suspicians? Here’s what’s next:
- Get the untenable proposal off the table. Done.
- Work on a new one – for real this time – that addresses the valid concerns [there are some] about the ACA, and how to mitigate them in the coming years. Editing an old proposal? Drafting a new one? Irrelevant – but work across the aisle. And get substantive input from the people involved daily – patients, medical professionals, insurance companies, employers – not just rubber stamps.
- With respect and open debate, put it before the legislature and the American people.
- Vote.
We can dream.
So – onto tax reform. We’ll see if a pattern emerges.
As promised, some of our favorite passage from H.R 277: American Health Care Reform Act. (We thought healthcare was one word by why quibble?)
TWAN tip: These offer the most fun if you read them aloud. Our favorite part is how they all begin with: "In general." That's fantastic. Enjoy.
So basically.....exact figures aren't required. Is that it?
SEC. 224. STANDARD DEDUCTION FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.
(B) COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT.--
“(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of taxable years beginning in calendar years after the first calendar year to which this section applies, the dollar amounts under subparagraph (A) shall be increased by an amount equal to--
“(I) such dollar amount, multiplied by
“(II) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins, determined by substituting ‘the calendar year preceding the first calendar year to which section 224 applies’ for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B) thereof.
“(ii) ROUNDING.—If any increase under clause (i) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.
Got that? Again....we're rounding?
SEC. 226. FSA AND HRA INTERACTION WITH HSAS.
“(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2017, each of the dollar amounts in paragraph (2)(B)(iii) shall be increased by an amount equal to such dollar amount, multiplied by the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins by substituting ‘calendar year 2016’ for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B) thereof.
“(B) ROUNDING.—If any increase under paragraph (1) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.”.
Waitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminute....you mean I can get my insurance to pay for my Equinox membership?
SEC. 236. CERTAIN EXERCISE EQUIPMENT AND PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS TREATED AS MEDICAL CARE.
(a) In General.—Subsection (d) of section 213 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(12) EXERCISE EQUIPMENT AND PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS.--
“(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘medical care’ shall include amounts paid--
“(i) to purchase or use equipment used in a program (including a self-directed program) of physical exercise,
“(ii) to participate, or receive instruction, in a program of physical exercise, and
“(iii) for membership dues in a fitness club the primary purpose of which is to provide access to equipment and facilities for physical exercise.
“(B) LIMITATION.—Amounts treated as medical care under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $1,000 with respect to any individual for any taxable year.”.
(b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
And my next shipment of Nutrisystem??
(a) In General.—Subsection (d) of section 213, as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(13) NUTRITIONAL AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS.--
“(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘medical care’ shall include amounts paid to purchase herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, meal replacement products, and other dietary and nutritional supplements.
“(B) LIMITATION.—Amounts treated as medical care under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $1,000 with respect to any individual for any taxable year.
“(C) MEAL REPLACEMENT PRODUCT.—For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘meal replacement product’ means any product that--
“(i) is permitted to bear labeling making a claim described in section 403(r)(3) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and
“(ii) is permitted to claim under such section that such product is low in fat and is a good source of protein, fiber, and multiple essential vitamins and minerals.”.
(b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Finally! Something substantive for the most vulnerable among us. We knew it was there somewhere. Oh wait....never mind.
TITLE III—IMPROVING ACCESS TO INSURANCE FOR VULNERABLE AMERICANS
Subtitle A—Eliminating Barriers To Insurance Coverage
SEC. 301. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR GUARANTEED AVAILABILITY IN INDIVIDUAL MARKET.
(a) In General.—Section 2741(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–41(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking “(1)(A)” and inserting “(1)”; and
(B) by striking “and (B)” and all that follows up to the semicolon at the end;
(2) by adding “and” at the end of paragraph (2);
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking “(1)(A)” and inserting “(1)”; and
(B) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and
(4) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5).
(b) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.