The Fighting 29th

All about New York's 29th Congressional District

Reader Phil Palmesano sent along the full press release from Republican/Conservative party chairs, which is embedded after the break. Their basic argument is that universal health care, which Massa supports, is too expensive and that it will cause an increase in middle-class taxes.

The Kuhl ads on health care and this press release all point to one source, Rep. John Conyers' [D-MI-14] cost-justification for a House bill. The bill, HR 676, has not been specifically endorsed by Massa, who also has his own plan.

It's also unlikely that this bill will be the final form of health care reform that is enacted under an Obama administration (assuming he's elected). Obama's health care plan is much more conservative.

That said, the supposedly scary thing about the bill is the 3.3% payroll tax increase that would fund it. That's $1,200/month for a family making $40,000/year.

Assuming that this family is not insured, they're paying more than that in medical expenses. If they are self-insured, then they are paying more in insurance. If they have employer insurance, their employer will save much more than $1,200, and perhaps they'll stay in business a bit longer to provide that $40,000 paycheck.

So, Conyers' plan, which, again, Massa has never said he supports, doesn't look that scary to me.

Finally, the press release, and Kuhl's ads, claim that the Massa supports health care for illegal immigrants. That's a mis-reading of the bill that Massa doesn't support. It also said that Massa supports limiting doctor choice, which is precisely not what Massa's plan says.

I'd suggest that everyone voting tomorrow who cares about this issue take a look at four things:

1. Massa's plan
2. Obama's plan
3. Kuhl's plan
4. John McCain's plan

Update: Thanks to Meghan Tisinger from Kuhl's office for the correction: Massa does support HR 676.

LOCAL PARTY CHAIRS CRITICIZE ERIC MASSA’S PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT- RUN, SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE PLAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: PHIL PALMESANO – 607-857-0536

(CORNING, NY) – CHAIRS OF LOCAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONS ANNOUNCED THEIR OPPOSITIONhttp://www.johnmccain.com/content/default.aspx?guid=8475c713-a541-4b97-a2aa-800e35da37bb TO ERIC MASSA’S SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT- RUN, SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE PLAN(1).

“ERIC MASSA SUPPORTS A GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE PLAN THAT WILL ELIMINATE EMPLOYEER-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS, PUT HEALTH CARE DECISIONS IN THE HANDS OF BUREAUCRATS IN WASHINGTON INSTEAD OF DOCTORS, RATION CARE, LIMIT CHOICE OF DOCTORS, AND PROVIDE FREE HEALTH INSURANCE TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS(2)(3),” SAID THE PARTY CHAIRS IN A JOINT STATEMENT. THE PARTY CHAIRS INCLUDE:

DON GWINNER, STEUBEN COUNTY CONSERVATIVE CHAIRMAN

LOUIS DECICCO, CHEMUNG COUNTY CONSERVATIVE CHAIRMAN

LINDA MOORE, SCHUYLER COUNTY CONSERVATIVE CHAIRWOMAN

BILL HATCH, STEUBEN COUNTY REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN

PHIL BARNES, SCHUYLER COUNTY REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN

MIKE KRUSEN, CHEMUNG COUNTY REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN

MATT SHICK, STEUBEN COUNTY INDEPENDENCE PARTY CHAIRMAN

MICHAEL HILLMAN, CHEMUNG COUNTY INDEPENDENCE PARTY CHAIRMAN

PHIL PALMESANO, CORNING CITY REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN

“MASSA’S PLAN WILL COST TAXPAYERS OVER $1 TRILLION(4), SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING TAXES, INCLUDING PAYROLL TAXES, COSTING A FAMILY OF FOUR EARNING $40,000/YEAR AN ADDITIONAL $1200/YR IN TAXES(5),” ADDED THE CHAIRS.

“DURING THESE UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES, WHEN FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE INCREASING TAXES AND THAT IS WHAT MR. MASSA IS PROPOSING WITH HIS SUPPORT FOR THIS $1 TRILLION GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE PLAN.”

“ERIC MASSA TALKS ABOUT CHANGE, BUT HE IS CHANGE TAXPAYERS JUST CAN’T AFFORD,” THE CHAIRS CONCLUDED.

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SOURCES:

(1) OLEAN TIMES HEARLAD 9/16/08 – MASSA VOWS SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PLAN AND WOULD BACK HR.676 IF ELECTED

(2) WXXI, 9/10/08

(3) SECTION 101 OF HR.676

(4) U.S REP JOHN CONYERS WEBSITE – FINANCING HR.676 http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676_2.shtml

(5) GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/18/05 – U.S REP JOHN CONYERS (SPONSOR OF HR. 676) LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT DISCUSSES HR.676 AND HOW EVERYONE PAYS – “SO IT’S EASY TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH EVERYONE IS GOING TO PAY. IF YOU’RE WORKING, YOU JUST DO THE MATH: 3.3 PERCENT (PAYROLL TAX ON ALL EARNINGS) THAT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION.”