Not to be outdone by Senator Kennedy, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, together with other House leaders, unveiled an 850 page draft of the House health care reform proposals, a mere 235 pages longer than the incomplete Kennedy draft legislation. The House version includes a public plan, and requirements that every citizen purchase health insurance, and every employer provide health coverage for its employees. Employers not providing insurance would have to pay a tax equal to 8% of gross payroll, and individuals not purchasing coverage would pay a tax equal to 2% of gross income.
CBO has not scored the House draft yet, but you can bet it will cost out at least equal to the $160 billion annual cost of the incomplete Kennedy draft. Leaders in both houses have already conceded that neither measure will come to the floor before the Independence Day recess.
CBO has not scored the House draft yet, but you can bet it will cost out at least equal to the $160 billion annual cost of the incomplete Kennedy draft. Leaders in both houses have already conceded that neither measure will come to the floor before the Independence Day recess.
