Obamacare tax to hit 50% more – mostly middle class

by NW Spotlight

The Associated Press is reporting that “Nearly 6 million Americans — significantly more than first estimated— will face a tax penalty” under Obamacare, for not getting insurance. AP goes on to note “Most would be in the middle class. The new estimate amounts to an inconvenient fact for the administration, a reminder of what critics see as broken promises.”

The new numbers from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, 6 million, are 50% higher than the 4 million estimated when Obamacare passed. AP notes “in his first campaign for the White House, Obama pledged not to raise taxes on individuals making less than $200,000 a year and couples making less than $250,000.”

Another broken Obama promise. More than 80% of the 6 million projected to face the new tax penalty make much less than the incomes in Obama’s campaign pledge to the middle class. The CBO analysis finds nearly 80% of the 6 million make “$55,850 or less for an individual and $115,250 or less for a family of four.”

Justifying the tax penalty on the middle class, a spokeswoman for the Obama administration said “We’re no longer going to subsidize the care of those who can afford to buy insurance but make a choice not to buy it.”

The average tax penalty will be $1,200.