October 7, 2009

You pay into Medicare, shouldn’t Paris Hilton?

Posted at 2:22 PM by Adam Linker

imagesOK, so Citizens for Tax Justice is being a bit unfair by targeting Hilton. After all, she has been working in recent years.

But the group makes a good argument that we should extend the individual portion of the Medicare payroll tax to unearned income like capital gains and investments.

To the extent that Hilton and her BFFs live off of stock dividends, interest payments, and investment income they are exempt from our nation’s only dedicated health care tax. The idea is getting a lot of play right now in the health policy blogosphere, and it was apparently debated behind close doors in the Senate Finance Committee, but thus far legislators have not publicly endorsed the idea.

CTJ estimates that the change could raise more than $390 billion over ten years — a hefty sum. Congress may give the idea another look as it puts together a deficit neutral health care bill.

You can read here about more ideas to raise revenues and make our tax system more fair to middle class families.

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6 Comments

6 Comments Add yours »

Jeff 7 Oct 2009 5:29 pm

Just a “FYI”…. deficit neutral = Tax increase. I would rather be able to “opt out” of Medicare and use my own insurance plan. I’d like to get out of Social Security too, but that ain’t gonna happen anytime soon, so I’m stuck paying into plans that are bankrupt and I will never see the return on my investment. Remember, every dollar government gives to one person, it has taken from someone else.

Just Me Shim 7 Oct 2009 6:51 pm

“extend the individual portion of the Medicare payroll tax to unearned income like capital gains and investments.”

Now that is on BIG, DUMB ASS IDEA!!!!

Are you nuts?

Shim

And to be sure, I haven’t haven’t enjoyed a capital gain or received a dividend in years! And who the fug is Penis Hilton?

Tiffany co Necklaces 9 Oct 2009 12:29 am

nice

Dave 9 Oct 2009 7:27 pm

She won’t use it, so why should she pay into it? A lot of people would opt out of Social Security if they could.

Sean 16 Oct 2009 8:42 am

paris hilton is my hero. shes the best progressive iv ever seen! i love her <3
-sean

Sean 16 Oct 2009 8:42 am

she has fake boobs

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