Monday, February 05, 2007

My God, He Used the "T" Word


Yes, he did it, he really did. John Edwards, in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination, has said he'll raise taxes. That's pretty close to heresy in today's America.


Edwards wants universal health care. The Guardian reports his proposal would require businesses to provide coverage to their employees:


"Edwards plan aims to have universal coverage by 2012. A Democratic rival, Barack Obama, also has said that is his goal, but the Illinois senator has yet to provide more specifics about how he would get there.


"Edwards plan would first require employers to cover their workers or help pay for their insurance. He would try to clamp down on rising costs with tax credits to help lower and middle income taxpayers pay for their plans, expanded government programs like Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and changes to insurance laws to require coverage for all regardless of pre-existing conditions or other factors. And he would create nonprofit regional purchasing pools so that consumers would have a way to buy an affordable and high quality plan.


"Finally, he would require every citizen to get coverage, unless they have financial or religious exemptions.


"The plan would free up money for health care coverage by abolishing President Bush's tax cuts for people who make more than $200,000 a year and by having the government collect more back taxes, Edwards said. "


Abolishing tax cuts for the rich? What's next, emancipating the slaves?

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