Posted by desolationrower on April 1, 2010, at 14:24:21
In reply to Re: New Health Bill Passed Ammended Hour Later » Justherself54, posted by bleauberry on March 29, 2010, at 19:40:23
hm, can't find it now, but someone mentioned 'caterpillar and ATT' having some problem with the bill. and like most conservative 'facts', i assumed it was made up in some PR department somewhere.
and hey look what i was reading in my rssreader today:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/business/30subsidy.html
"When Congress and President George W. Bush enacted a prescription drug plan for seniors in 2003, the legislation encouraged companies to continue providing prescription coverage to retirees, instead of shifting retirees to Medicare Part D, by having the government give those companies large subsidies for each retiree and also allowing them to deduct those subsidies from their income taxes.Under the health care overhaul, the federal government will continue providing those subsidies amounting to 28 percent of a drug plans costs but companies will lose the tax break. "
"An association representing 300 large corporations urged President Obama and Congress on Monday to repeal a provision of the health care overhaul that prompted AT&T, Caterpillar and other companies to announce substantial charges for the current quarter.The association, the American Benefits Council, said the provision which reduces the tax deductions for companies with drug coverage for their retired employees would deal a significant blow to corporate profits and would discourage companies from hiring more workers.
AT&T announced last week that it was taking a $1 billion charge because of the provision. Deere & Company announced a $150 million charge, Caterpillar a $100 million charge, and 3M a $90 million charge.
Many companies said they were taking these charges now, before the current quarter ended, to comply with accounting rules. But some corporate critics asserted that the companies rapid response to the health legislation was aimed at pressing the administration to repeal the provision. "
business will only get one subsidy, not two! horror.
i get why the pr flak would be pushing this crap, but i'm always befuddled by teabaggers' concern for corporations' subsidies. power-worship, i think.
-d/r
poster:desolationrower
thread:940515
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20090821/msgs/941633.html