My daughter has Autism. She has been a wonderful blessing to my family and teaches us many things while we work with her on her challenges. Now Congress wants to tax me right where it hurts, in caring for my disabled child. I rely on a Flexible Spending Account to cover medical expenses not covered by my Insurance. The amount I am able to set aside tax free for her care is over $4,000 a year. The Senate bill will cap that amount so I have to pay more taxes and have less money for taking care of my disabled child.
Recently, the CDC confirmed that Autism in America is increasing. It used to be estimated at 1 in 150 children would be diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Now is has been found to be 1 in 96. Roughly 1% of every child born in the USA must deal with this disability.
From the CDC’s website (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html):
Given the importance of the issue and these new findings, we would like to confirm that updated preliminary data from CDC shows that overall prevalence findings are similar to those reported by HRSA indicating that approximately 1% of children are affected with an ASD.
Surprised they reported this, I quote from MSNBC’s website (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32462685/ns/health-health_care):
The Senate Finance Committee bill does not ban FSAs. It does limit contributions by an employee to a FSA to $2,500 a year. This would raise an estimated $14.6 billion in new tax revenue over 10 years, due to workers having higher taxable incomes than they would have had by using FSAs. Critics of this change in the law argue that since the $2,500 cap is not indexed to the inflation rate, it will effectively make FSAs dwindle in value every year. The main House insurance reform bill does not have a similar provision limiting FSAs.
Forget the critics quoted by MSNBC, not only would my FSA be less every year, but I would have to pay new taxes on money I currently use for medical treatments for my daughter.
Congress, Do Not Tax My Autistic Child!
Sincerely,
Nathan W.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
Yet another example of compassionate government. nt
Xasteius (Diary) Thursday, October 8th at 7:08PM EST (link)Don’t leave the party, hijack it back!
The only poll that counts is the one at the ballot box.
I don’t want to be Reagan. I want to be a Chance/Soros hybrid.
Raising taxes on Flexible Spending Accounts is a poor idea
David123 (Diary) Thursday, October 8th at 7:30PM EST (link)because:
1. it raises taxes on those who are trying to handle more of their healthcare needs out of pocket.
2. it raises taxes on many people earning less than $250,000 a year, so President Obama can’t sign such a bill if he keeps his word to the American people.
David123
Poor idea yields increased poor.
Remington_Steele (Diary) Thursday, October 8th at 7:37PM EST (link)I agree with you David that this is a bad idea. I am trying to handle my own healthcare needs and the current senate bill proposed has a new direct tangilble tax on my caring for my daughter. This is a new direct tax on the middle class.
Sadly, but not suprising, I have no hope that if a bill makes it through Congress that the President will Veto it based on promises he made in the past. I dare him to suprise me
Only government could try to say
GregInFla (Diary) Thursday, October 8th at 9:39PM EST (link)that adding taxes on healthcare to pay for healthcare helps cut healthcare costs, and have the MSM not challenge it.
– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.
This is not only a direct tax,
Vegas_Rick (Diary) Sunday, October 11th at 3:14PM EST (link)it is a punishment for someone, like yourself, who has taken personal responsibility of their healthcare needs by establishing a FSA.
Once again, someone does the responsible thing, and they get hammered by the progressives.
“God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.”- Billy Currington
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.
My sister is going to have the same problem. nt
Steph C (Diary) Thursday, October 8th at 7:48PM EST (link)“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
Uniting to stop stupidity
Remington_Steele (Diary) Thursday, October 8th at 10:54PM EST (link)Thanks Steph for letting us know. I think there will be quite a few people in the middle and poor working class that will be affected by this measure (not to mention the many other issues). I have written my senators and I urge folks to send their senators a note telling them that this direct tax on the middle and poor class should be voted down:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml