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House GOP proposes raising Medicare age to 67
Old 12-03-2012, 06:21 PM   #1
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House GOP proposes raising Medicare age to 67

Their proposal to avoid the fiscal cliff includes raising the medicare age to 67, slower COLA adjustments to Social Security and $800 billion in new tax revenues (over 10 years) via capping or elimination of deductions but definitely no increase in tax rates.


Counteroffer: Medicare, Social Security on the table as GOP issues new ‘fiscal cliff’ offer - The Washington Post
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Old 12-03-2012, 06:26 PM   #2
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Why wouldn't the age that one is eligible for Medicare align with your SS FRA? The fact that it was different never made sense to me. It would also make things simpler.
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Old 12-03-2012, 06:35 PM   #3
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Yes they did. Seems like they're all floating trial balloons and maneuvering (as always), not a bad thing IMO, knowing the solution involves putting everything on the table. It's encouraging that none of the ultimatum/extreme characters from either side have taken the stage yet (that I've noticed). This isn't going to be pretty, but hopefully they get something substantial done...not taking bets yet.
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:01 PM   #4
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Dismissing the idea of raising any tax rates, the Republicans said the new revenue would come from closing loopholes and deductions while lowering rates.
Does anyone know whether the Republican proposal included a list of the specific loopholes and deductions to be eliminated, and the amount of additional revenue expected from each? If so, can you provide a link to the list? thx
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:07 PM   #5
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On CBS This Morning, it was mentioned that in order to have a deal to avoid going over that cliff, both sides really need to have a deal by Dec 15th as the process itself takes at least about two weeks to move through to completion.
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:10 PM   #6
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:19 PM   #7
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Dollar to a donut, the fix is already in and all this back and forth is just for show.

Bacon anyone ?
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:26 PM   #8
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Dollar to a donut, the fix is already in and all this back and forth is just for show.

Bacon anyone ?
Kinda like going to a car dealership and having to go through the negotiating dance before coming to agreement?
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:28 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by kyounge1956 View Post
Does anyone know whether the Republican proposal included a list of the specific loopholes and deductions to be eliminated, and the amount of additional revenue expected from each? If so, can you provide a link to the list? thx
I haven't seen a list of such loopholes/deductions. Most of the talk (during the election and more recently in Senator Bob Corker's proposal) have steered clear of the minefield of eliminating specific deductions. Instead, the proposals cap these deductions (e.g. Corker would limit them to $50,000). I think this is designed to avoid targeting any specific sacred cows. It's probably a politically smart approach. Also, as a practical mater, with just a few weeks left it may be impractical to weed through the mountains of special tax treatments and deductions. This effectively neutralizes many of them in an easy way. Unfortunately, it leaves the tax code a mess. On the other hand, it might serve as an effective brake on further encroachment of deductions and "special deals": If such a cap remains in place, it would be very obvious if someone tried to lift it.
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:50 PM   #10
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Does anyone know whether the Republican proposal included a list of the specific loopholes and deductions to be eliminated, and the amount of additional revenue expected from each? If so, can you provide a link to the list? thx
Supposedly the idea of caps or closing loopholes is not new. It's something they've been proposing since August 2011 when they had the debt ceiling standoff -- which incidentally they want the option to use again to force through more cuts.

Romney didn't specify which deductions either.

What is new today is the GOP specifying the changes to entitlements.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:07 PM   #11
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I think they are going to have to come to a short term agreement on the way to a long term agreement. As you said, they can't work all of this stuff out in a few weeks.

Ultimately, I find it amazing that both sides are willing to give the upper middle class a complete pass on taxes. I think they need to weed out some of our deductions, and I don't think they should limit it just to the $250k+ crowd.

As a married homeowner (and new father), I am getting an incredibly sweet deal tax-wise. We pay lower tax rates than many people I know that make half as much. That doesn't make sense to me.


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I haven't seen a list of such loopholes/deductions. Most of the talk (during the election and more recently in Senator Bob Corker's proposal) have steered clear of the minefield of eliminating specific deductions. Instead, the proposals cap these deductions (e.g. Corker would limit them to $50,000). I think this is designed to avoid targeting any specific sacred cows. It's probably a politically smart approach. Also, as a practical mater, with just a few weeks left it may be impractical to weed through the mountains of special tax treatments and deductions. This effectively neutralizes many of them in an easy way. Unfortunately, it leaves the tax code a mess. On the other hand, it might serve as an effective brake on further encroachment of deductions and "special deals": If such a cap remains in place, it would be very obvious if someone tried to lift it.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:36 PM   #12
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Ultimately, I find it amazing that both sides are willing to give the upper middle class a complete pass on taxes. I think they need to weed out some of our deductions, and I don't think they should limit it just to the $250k+ crowd.

As a married homeowner (and new father), I am getting an incredibly sweet deal tax-wise. We pay lower tax rates than many people I know that make half as much. That doesn't make sense to me.
Lodge a complaint with the congress and president.

But don't worry, once we get on the taxes going up train, we will learn that there are not enough rich guys, or that too many so called rich guys have found ways to stucture income to minimize taxes, and you will certainly get your chance to pay more.

Ha
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:51 PM   #13
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...As a married homeowner (and new father), I am getting an incredibly sweet deal tax-wise. We pay lower tax rates than many people I know that make half as much. That doesn't make sense to me.
I don't get that - can you explain what you are talking about? Since tax rates vary with income if you make twice as much as someone else your tax rate should be higher.
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Old 12-03-2012, 09:00 PM   #14
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Raising the age makes sense to me as it brings the coverage period closer to what it had been when these entitlement plans originated.
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Old 12-03-2012, 09:01 PM   #15
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I don't get that - can you explain what you are talking about? Since tax rates vary with income if you make twice as much as someone else your tax rate should be higher.
Not exactly--Tax rates vary by the filer's taxable income. It's entirely possible for a single taxpayer taking the standard deduction to pay a higher marginal tax rate than a married couple with a child and a lot of mortgage interest plus other deductions who are earning twice as much. And that's before we get into cap gains and dividend income treatment.

Our tax code is a mess.
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Old 12-03-2012, 09:32 PM   #16
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I would be okay with raising the Medicare age to 67 IF there was a method for an early buy-in the same way someone can begin taking SS at an age less than the FRA and agree to a reduction in benefits. Medicare would then be slightly costlier for someone who chooses to begin receiving benefits at, say, 65 (or less, perhaps down to 62, the minimum age to begin claiming SS benefits).

Not sure how this would interact with the PPACA whose exchanges would enable someone to buy HI although there are pretty high multipliers by age. There might be some adverse selection issues with those who do an early buy-in.
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Old 12-03-2012, 09:55 PM   #17
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Ultimately, I find it amazing that both sides are willing to give the upper middle class a complete pass on taxes.
FIFY. With the above fix, I agree with you 100%.

I scratched my head over that observation, then it occurred to me. That's where the votes are. Elementary, Mr. Watson. Heh heh heh...
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Old 12-03-2012, 10:00 PM   #18
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I am not too keen on the COLA rework, particularly now with the demise of private pensions and diminishing wealth in the middle class. Social security with an honest COLA is one of the few lifelines many people have to look forward to.
Of course it can be argued that the current COLA is not truly reflective of real world inflation.
To me it makes more sense to raise the salary limit that is taxed and /or start nudging up the retirement age.
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Old 12-03-2012, 10:07 PM   #19
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Another option to slowly broaden the tax base: This proposed cap on deductions: set it at $50,000 and leave it there--no indexing for inflation. At the same time, stop indexing the standard deduction and personal exemptions for inflation. Gradually, inflation will bring more and more Americans into the ranks of those who pay federal income taxes.

Don't expect to hear this idea discussed.
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Old 12-03-2012, 10:48 PM   #20
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I don't get that - can you explain what you are talking about? Since tax rates vary with income if you make twice as much as someone else your tax rate should be higher.
Why should your rate be higher? Tax amount, perhaps, though that is arguable. Does John Paulson use more government services than some high school dropout?

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