Political Deal Results in Senate Committee Agreeing to Health Care Bill Taxing Poor and Middle-Class, Rich Agreeing to Release the Hounds

Washington, D.C.--Following a grand political compromise, a Senate committee agreed to a health care bill that would be paid for by taxing the poor and middle class, and in return the rich agreed to "release the hounds."

President Obama promised during the campaign that "If you're a family making less than $250,000 a year, my plan won't raise your taxes one penny -- not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes." Despite that pledge, the health care bill Obama supports in the Senate would impose excise taxes that raise about $52 billion. Of that, about 87 percent of the revenue would come from individuals with incomes less than $200,000.

As one rich person pleased with the agreed-to revenue source said, "We all have to sacrifice for the goal of government-run health care. It was the least I could do to contribute my ravenous hounds."

Associated articles: http://www.aei.org/article/101152; http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574471292249934348.html