“For anybody not under a government health program, it provides the resources to access health coverage,” Burr said in an interview this morning.

The proposal calls for raising money by taxing the health-care benefits that many workers now receive through their employers. Those health premiums now are tax-free.

The money then would be used by the U.S. Treasury to offer refundable tax credits. Individuals would receive $2,160, or up to $5,400 per family.

For those with employment-based coverage, the credits would be enough to cover the tax bill on all but the richest insurance plans, Burr said.

For people without employment-based health care, the tax credits could be used to pay for private health insurance or other health-care costs.

Raleigh News & Observer

Putting aside the fact that the Federal Government has absolutely no business whatsoever being involved in anyone’s health care, this bill is a tax increase. Sure, they may give you a credit, if I am reading this right, when you file your taxes, but that is after the end of the year when you get your lump sum refund. The tax will be steadily coming out of your check throughout the year I assume, so you are paying piece by piece each week and waiting for the government to give you your money back later on. No thanks.

Besides, I don’t see this passing the Senate anyway, because when they say the credit will cover the cost of all but the richest health care plans, they are talking about union members. The Democrats will never go for that.

A U.S. judge on Thursday struck down as unconstitutional a local law designed to crack down on illegal immigration, dealing a blow to similar laws passed by dozens of towns and cities across the country.

U.S. District Judge James Munley said the city of Hazleton, 100 miles north of Philadelphia, was not allowed to implement a law that would fine businesses that hire illegal immigrants and penalize landlords who rent rooms to them.

“Federal law prohibits Hazleton from enforcing any of the provisions of its ordinances,” Munley wrote in a 206-page opinion following a federal trial in which Hazleton’s law was challenged by civil rights groups.

Reuters

Not good.  I wonder if Barletta will take it to the Supreme Court.