Senate Dem leaders want to soften tax provision in health law

[The Northerner]

Senate Democrats want to scale-back a controversial part of their own healthcare law that imposes new burdens on small businesses.

The proposal — introduced on Thursday by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) with the support of party leaders — would eliminate a new tax filing requirement that many conservatives, backed by the business community, deem a job killer.

The bill arrives amid growing support for a rival GOP plan that would eliminate the filing requirement more broadly. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Johanns (Neb.), the legislation would offset the repeal with billions of dollars in cuts to preventive healthcare services.

The Democrats' bill, by contrast, would relax a portion of the small business provision, and pay for it by killing a tax break for the nation's oil giants, including BP.

The action comes as Republicans hit President Obama and Democrats hard over the economy. Businesses are not hiring enough to lower the nation's 9.5 percent unemployment rate, and the GOP is intensifying its arguments that Democratic tax and regulatory policies are to blame.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) slammed the tax provision this week, saying it would create "an enormous amount of paperwork and complexity" for the nation's businesses."

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/113029-baucus-urges-repeal-of-small-business-1099-filing-mandate-paid-by-bp-tax-hike

[Abq_Sarah]

1. They'd damned well better do something

The 1099 provision is going to be an absolute nightmare.

[zipplewrath]

2. Yeah, THAT'S what needs fixing first

All the things that need "fixing" in the bill and THAT'S the first one they think of.

[Abq_Sarah]

3. It's a provision that would

Be very expensive and time consuming for small businesses...the group that has been left out in the cold when it comes to bailing out corporate America.

[zipplewrath]

4. As oppose to the millions that will still be without insurance

Or the millions that will still not be able to afford health CARE.

Public option was the first thing.

Health CARE reform was the first thing.

[Abq_Sarah]

5. Hey, I don't disagree

Which is why I question the fact that they inserted this costly poison pill for small biz into healthcare legislation.