RE: The outrageous CJ Roberts decision on Obamacare will go down in history as a text book example of legislating from the bench.
I think the lawyers for Obamacare actually argued that the law states that the mandate is BOTH a tax and a penalty.
Obama on the other hand, when interviewed by Stephanopoulos, vehemently denied that it is a tax.
SEE THE VIDEO HERE:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2009/09/obama-mandate-is-not-a-tax/
TRANSCRIPT:
STEPHANOPOULOS: You were against the individual mandate
OBAMA: Yes.
STEPHANOPOULOS: during the campaign. Under this mandate, the government is forcing people to spend money, fining you if you dont. How is that not a tax?
OBAMA: Well, hold on a second, George. Here heres whats happening. You and I are both paying $900, on average our families in higher premiums because of uncompensated care. Now what Ive said is that if you cant afford health insurance, you certainly shouldnt be punished for that. Thats just piling on. If, on the other hand, were giving tax credits, weve set up an exchange, you are now part of a big pool, weve driven down the costs, weve done everything we can and you actually can afford health insurance, but youve just decided, you know what, I want to take my chances. And then you get hit by a bus and you and I have to pay for the emergency room care, thats
STEPHANOPOULOS: That may be, but its still a tax increase.
OBAMA: No. Thats not true, George. The for us to say that youve got to take a responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase. What its saying is, is that were not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore than the fact that right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase. People say to themselves, that is a fair way to make sure that if you hit my car, that Im not covering all the costs.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But it may be fair, it may be good public policy
OBAMA: No, but but, George, you you cant just make up that language and decide that thats called a tax increase. Any
STEPHANOPOULOS: Heres the
OBAMA: What what if I if I say that right now your premiums are going to be going up by 5 or 8 or 10 percent next year and you say well, thats not a tax increase; but, on the other hand, if I say that I dont want to have to pay for you not carrying coverage even after I give you tax credits that make it affordable, then
STEPHANOPOULOS: I I dont think Im making it up. Merriam Websters Dictionary: Tax a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes.
OBAMA: George, the fact that you looked up Merriams Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that youre stretching a little bit right now. Otherwise, you wouldnt have gone to the dictionary to check on the definition. I mean what
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, no, but
OBAMA: what youre saying is
STEPHANOPOULOS: I wanted to check for myself. But your critics say it is a tax increase.
OBAMA: My critics say everything is a tax increase. My critics say that Im taking over every sector of the economy. You know that. Look, we can have a legitimate debate about whether or not were going to have an individual mandate or not, but
STEPHANOPOULOS: But you reject that its a tax?
OBAMA: I absolutely reject that notion.