Balkinization  

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Now it can be told: John Roberts was secretly taking orders from Grover Norquist

JB

That's because Norquist's organization, Americans for Tax Reform, argued that the mandate was a tax back in January of 2011:

Comprehensive List of Tax Hikes in Obamacare
Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on an historic repeal of the Obamacare law. While there are many reasons to oppose this flawed government health insurance law, it is important to remember that Obamacare is also one of the largest tax increases in American history. Below is a comprehensive list of the two dozen new or higher taxes that pay for Obamcare’s expansion of government spending and interference between doctors and patients.

Individual Mandate Excise Tax(Jan 2014): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the higher of the following

1 Adult

2 Adults

3+ Adults

2014

1% AGI/$95

1% AGI/$190

1% AGI/$285

2015

2% AGI/$325

2% AGI/$650

2% AGI/$975

2016 +

2.5% AGI/$695

2.5% AGI/$1390

2.5% AGI/$2085


Exemptions for religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes, and hardship cases (determined by HHS)
So now we know the truth: John Roberts never switched his vote! Like a good movement conservative, he followed Norquist's line unquestioningly.

The only remaining puzzle is why the four conservative dissenters didn't get the memo. Surely they must have heard that the Maximum Leader had declared the mandate a tax. Does their decision to disregard Norquist's announcement at this crucial moment portend the end of his hold over the conservative movement?




Older Posts
Newer Posts
Home