Obama OMB Director: Obamacare mandate penalty is NOT a tax

On 2.15.2012 during a House Budget hearing Scott Garrett (R-NJ) asked Obama's budget director if violating the Obamacare mandate will result in a tax being imposed. This is the argument that team Obama is making in front of the Supreme Court to justify the mandate. The OMB Director stated it is NOT a tax, which is contradictory to Team Obama's argument.

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[Chad Rushing]

I am glad this is on tape so when I don't buy into Obamacare and the Supreme Court CANNOT levy taxes I am safe in assuming any tax not expressly created by Congress is Unconstitutional thus Obamacare is also Unconstitutional.

[Paul Blackburn]

Congressman Garrett is an idiot. Why is this so hard to understand! When addressing the American people: it's not a tax. When addressing the Supreme Court: it is a tax. Duh!!