Talk to smart folks in Washington, and here’s what they think will happen: The final tax deal will raise rates a bit, giving Democrats a win, but not all the way back to 39.6 percent, giving Republicans a win. That won’t raise enough revenue on its own, so it will be combined with some policy to cap tax deductions, perhaps at $25,000 or $50,000, with a substantial phase-in and an exemption for charitable contributions.
The harder question is what Republicans will get on the spending side of the deal. But even that’s not such a mystery. There will be a variety of nips and tucks to Medicare, including more cost-sharing and decreases in provider payments, and the headline Democratic concession is likely to be that the Medicare eligibility age rises from 65 to 67.
Friday, December 7, 2012
A bad deal appears to be emerging on the "Fiscal Cliff"
As I've been saying for a while now raising the Medicare age is about the worst thing you could do for your friends, family, and local community.
It is a shell game that shifts the cost burden onto individuals, businesses, and state Medicaid roles. But does nothing in addressing the health care challenges we face over the long term--in both the public and private sectors.
Its a terrible trade-off just to get what will happen with or without a deal--an expiration of the Bush tax cuts for the top 2%.
Ezra Klein reports on a deal that appears to be coming together that is going to do just that---The fiscal cliff deal comes clearer: a 37% top tax rate and a higher Medicare eligibility age
Now is the time to start putting pressure on elected officials not to cut a deal that will hurt the middle class. Now is the time to start pressuring your friends to do the same. The GOP are pushing to "save money"[sic] in an inefficient manner and do so on the backs of hard working Americans.
Also see: Republicans think you are bad at math---or why raising the Medicare age of eligibility is a really really bad idea...
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