WASHINGTON, D.C. (YBH.ME) – Michigan Republican Congressman Dave Camp, the ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, released a letter today from the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) in regard to penalties for non-compliance with H.R. 3962.  H.R. 3962 is the name of a bill that is commonly known as the “Pelosi Health Care Bill” that is currently before Congress.

Dave Camp protests Pelosi's health care bill.

Excerpts from the JCT letter:

“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.” [page 1]

“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]

“Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses.  Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]

While it is a step or two removed from not buying health insurance, non-compliance could lead to prison time.  The Senate struck similar measures from their health care bill after the public and Republicans protested.

Afterward, Camp was quoted as saying, “The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration.  Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates.” Read the rest of this entry »