Obama Leaves Door Open to New Tax on Health Benefits - Political News - FOXNews.com

Obama Leaves Door Open to New Tax on Health Benefits - Political News - FOXNews.com: "Hospitals were being asked to accept a reduction of roughly $155 billion over the next decade in fees they are promised under government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, according to numerous officials."

"Baucus is seeking similar concessions from nursing homes, insurance companies, medical device makers and possibly others"

Money doesn't grow on trees and neither do cost reductions. We will pay for that someway or another.

"At its heart, any legislation is expected to require insurance companies to offer coverage to any applicant, without exclusions or higher premiums for pre-existing medical conditions."

So everyone will get higher premiums.

"Current law allows those expenses to be itemized when they exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. The proposal under review would raise that to 10 percent, officials said."

Only people with massive medical problems will be affected by this so we'll tax the hurting.

"Gerald W. McEntee, president of the 1.6 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said in an interview that union leaders believe Obama is 'a person of his word.' He was referring to Obama's opposition to taxing those benefits during last year's campaign.

'They're not going to take it,' McEntee said of workers' views of that proposal. 'They're not going to tolerate that.'"

"ABC News was the lone network broadcasting Obama's town hall -- drawing criticism from Republicans who wanted equal time.

In defense, ABC News President David Westin said the show would 'include a variety of perspectives coming from private individuals asking the president questions and taking issue with him, as they see fit.'"

So that makes it fair? Would they consider it fair to only do a Republican town hall like that?