The tax that is not a tax cuz I promised not to raise taxes.
so it’s an armadillo
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger defended his health care plan Thursday against criticism that he broke his fundamental campaign pledge of no new taxes by asking businesses and physicians to give a share of their revenues to the state.
Nuh uh—I heard ‘im: he said “No nude Texans.”
And, really—he’s just asking businesses and physicians to give a share of their revenues to the state.... Next week, for ever loaf of bread you buy, the baker will be asked to give 4¢ to the state…
Among [opponent Phil] Angelides’ proposals was a restriction on insurers to spend at most 10 percent of revenues on administration and overhead; Schwarzenegger’s plan has a 15 percent cap. Angelides wanted to require employers with 200 or more workers to provide health coverage; Schwarzenegger wants employers with 10 or more workers to pay into a state health care fund.
But Schwarzenegger did not release details of his own health care plan until after the election, and he assailed Angelides’ proposal as the equivalent of a $7 billion tax on businesses in California.
The governor said Thursday that Angelides last year “talked about increases in taxes, and I talked about giving money back to the people." He also called it a “waste of space” to resurrect last year’s campaign dialogue.
“Whaaaa?"
"It doesn’t go anywhere,” the governor said. “You write about the things that can move the agenda forward rather than moving it back. ... But I think in order for us to create health care for everyone in California, it is irrelevant now if you talk about what he proposed.”
Schwarzenegger clarified that his plan would provide coverage to all undocumented immigrants, adults and children alike, though he said the federal government already prevents the state from turning away those individuals at emergency rooms.
yeesh.
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