Cheesy Insurance

It seems the folks who give us great cheese and football now have an idea on how to solve the problem of the uninsured.

This comes in the form of universal, single payor health insurance funded with (what else?) . . . taxpayer dollars.

The Democrats control the cheese state's Senate and are considering bypassing GO and forgetting about the $200 by going directly to a full blown "cover everyone" plan. No baby steps for these folks. Going directly to "free" insurance for everyone.

So how much does "free" cost?

The plan would cost an estimated $15.2 billion, or $3 billion more than the state currently collects in all income, sales and corporate income taxes. It represents an average of $510 a month in higher taxes for every Wisconsin worker.

So, assuming their numbers are correct (and we have a history of politicians UNDER estimating costs) that means doubling the current tax revenue base and then some.

Sweet.

Employees and businesses would pay for the plan by sharing the cost of a new 14.5% employment tax on wages. Wisconsin businesses would have to compete with out-of-state businesses and foreign rivals while shouldering a 29.8% combined federal-state payroll tax, nearly double the 15.3% payroll tax paid by non-Wisconsin firms for Social Security and Medicare combined.


Out of state competition for business? Surely that won't happen!

How dare companies in IL, IA, MI and other neighboring states EXPLOIT the people of the great state of Wisconsin by undercutting prices (since THEY don't have to pay the 14.5% tax) costing jobs for Wisconsinites.

And let's not forget the folks that say guv-ern-mint can do a much better job, more efficiently, for less money.

So where will savings come from? Where they always do in any government plan: Rationing via price controls and, as costs rise, waiting periods and coverage restrictions.

Seems to me the folks need to keep what they do best. Turn out some really good cheese and a good football team.

Wonder what Brett Favre thinks about this?