House Of Representatives

Updated July 10, 2009

House Dem Aims to Tax the Wealthy for Health Care Reform

FOXNews.com

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel's plan is to tax households that earn at least $350,000 annually while controlling health care costs by cutting parts of Medicare and Medicaid.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel said Friday he plans to defray the cost of a health care reform package by raising $540 billion in taxes over a decade.

The New York Democrat's plan is to tax households that earn at least $350,000 annually while controlling health care costs by cutting parts of Medicare and Medicaid, the federal health programs for the elderly and poor.

House Democrats are trying to release a comprehensive health care reform bill early next week. Three committees with jurisdiction over the issue plan to start writing the final versions of the legislation in a few days.

Fiscally-conscious "Blue Dog" Democrats sidelined an effort by the Democratic leadership earlier this week to unveil a plan Friday. Many lawmakers are concerned about parity for all regions of the country.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn,D-S.C., also expressed concern that some savings might not be calculated in the final price tag of the legislation. For instance, Clyburn said providing health services through community centers would not be part of the congressional math, but could potentially curb the cost.

"You won't need additional revenue if you put of these (offsets) in," Clyburn told FOX News.

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