To begin my post here I am going to borrow from Will McVay’s post on the same subject:
More taxes and a total state take over of every aspect of our health care system. What am I missing that makes this a GOOD idea? Edited for additional sarcasm. From the synopsis:
This Delaware Health Security Act will provide all current and future Delaware citizens, our state’s budget and future economy and job development a non-government run program and cost effective single payer health care system.
Government establishing a non-government program. How’s that work? Is there such a thing as a “cost effective single payer health care system? I’ve never seen one.
Government establishing a non-government program……it’s a trap!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let’s be honest here it is a government program.
This Act will be administered by a 15-member Delaware Health Security Board comprised as follows: State Secretary of Health And Social Services, appointed by the Governor; Two members from both the State House of Representatives and State Senate Committees concerned with health care issues; Five members from state health professional organizations and five members from eligible consumer organizations in our state.
Will the appointees be subject to approval (like it matters who says no in the General Assembly anyway)?
As pointed out by Steve Newton at the Delaware Libertarian this bill is just a recycled bill, in fact there was no change to the math. Also, let’s talk numbers….make sure if this is passed to avoid working for a big company.
(3) Private individual and employer health insurance payments and out-of-pocket health care expenses will be replaced in this single payer Delaware Health Security Act as follows:
(A) All employers shall pay a graduated payroll taxas follows:
(i) 4 percent for employers with less than ten employees;
(ii) 5 percent for employers with 10 to 24 employees;
(iii) 7 percent for employers with 25 to 49 employees; and
(iv) 9 percent for employers with 50 or more employees.
This payroll tax may be shared by employers and employees.
Single employers shall pay no payroll tax as each will pay according to paragraphs (B) or (C) of this subsection that applies.
(B) All heads of households and persons subject to Delaware’s income tax return shall pay an additional Health Security income tax of 2.5 percent of taxable income.
(C) Persons filing a Delaware income tax return shall pay an additional Health Security income surtax of 2.5 percent on net taxable income in excess of $250,000. Married couples filing a Delaware joint income tax return shall pay an additional income surtax of 2.5 percent on net taxable income in excess of $500,000.
I would hope by now you are starting to see why this is a terrible bill. I’m sure some of you out there are thinking that this Earl Jaques-John Kowalko bill might cost them their seat. Well you might be disappointed to hear they are running unopposed.
Are wondering how my opponent James Johnson feels about single-payer health care? Well just in 2009, Johnson was the only member of only member of either house in Delaware to co-sponser State Legislators for Single Payer Healthcare – HR 676. You can find his signature here, be sure to check it out.
Make sure to call your senators and representatives and let them know you do not support this Kowalko-Jaques bill.
In Liberty,
John Machurek
John Machurek for Delaware's 16th District 