Floor Debate on H.R. 3962 Affordable Health Care For America Act: Majority Leader Hoyer

[EdLaborDemocrats]

Individual responsibility is enforced by a modest penalty of 2.5 percent of income, up to the average cost of a premium.

It would be extremely rare for an individual who otherwise follows the law to be subject to criminal prosecution for failure to meet the individual mandate. Out of 156 million individual tax returns filed last year, the IRS pursued only 100 criminal prosecutions for willful failure to pay taxes or file a tax return.

[EdLaborDemocrats]

The CBO says that virtually all delinquent taxes and penalties are collected through the civil process, not the criminal process.

And, affordability credits will be available for millions Americans who qualify.

There will be hardship waivers from the penalty available if folks still cant afford premiums.

[cartmanfan0316]

You guys failed social security, medicaid, and medicare! You guys counldn't even get all the H1N1 vaccines out on time. You userpers coundn't even run a cash for clunkers program! You tyrants couldn't even handle Katrina! And now you ask to take health care under your Guide! If this fails the blood will be on you hands. GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH! Congress, history will say that YOU were the ones to start this fight.

[ufbret]

H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax. [page 1]

The penalty:

• Section 7203 misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year

[cartmanfan0316]

It was congress who started this fight!