Dec 19 2009

In Which: I Become Amish

http://religionclause.blogspot…

Monday, November 09, 2009

House Health Care Bill Tracks FICA Exemption For Religious Objectors

The House version of the health care bill passed Saturday, HR 3962, imposes a 2.5% penalty tax on anyone who fails to obtain acceptable health care coverage. (Internal Revenue Code Sec. 59B(a) [pg. 297 of PDF]). However the bill does provide a “conscience exemption” for members of religious sects whose tenets reject insurance benefits. The exemption in Section 501of the bill [IRC Sec. 59B(c)(5) at pg. 299 of PDF] tracks the exemption from payment of social security and self-employment taxes for members of groups such as the Old Order Amish, described in Section 1402(g) of the Internal Revenue Code. (See prior related posting.)

Of course, this will probably be stripped after reconcilliations (see they can make it worse).

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  2. Well, at least someone made out besides the corps.  

    • Miep on December 20, 2009 at 00:50
    • #

    seemed more interesting to me than the Christian Scientists, whom I expect will get an out from this one too.

    Really community-oriented, the Amish. And they understand about going without a lot of unnecessary technological frills (or much of any at all, for that matter).

    And then there’s the Mennonites…they must be in there too.

    Better yet, we should start our own. I’ve been encouraging the idea of starting our own religion for a long time, but I can never get across the idea. Look at what some of them get away with…why should only they have those privileges?

    The whole point of starting your own religion is that you can make your own rules, including rules about not being able to make rules.

    All that and 501 (c) 3 too. What’s not to like?

    I guess that’s kind of what the Unitarians are about, but even they are a little too straight for me.

    Just my 2 cents.

  4. Climate crap puts everyone in the Amish house.

  5. But it has to be based upon a government approved religion that has tenets rejecting the acceptance of insurance benefits.

    And if the religion is not on the approved list, and all the members then decide not to recognize the government?

    Well, they better not live together, because Bill and Janet let everybody know what happens to religious dissenters when they get toooo serious.

    Just imagine if we get a war tax some day? Well, I hate to tell you, but we already have one. We’ve been paying it a long time.

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