In what might seem like something out of Bizarro World (apologies to Superman and Jerry Seinfeld), a U.S. congressman is proposing what amounts to one of the most ridiculous pieces of legislation I have ever encountered, considering the current state of the health care reform debate.
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) introduced H.R. 3501, also known as the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years Act (H.A.P.P.Y.). (click here for the story) This bill would provide tax breaks each time you take your pooch, cat or guinea pig to the vet.
This is no joke.
While the House was drafting its health care reform proposal during the summer, McCotter was drafting legislation to allow federal deductions of up to $3,500 for pet-related expenses, including visits to veterinarians.
The health care reform bill proposed by the House and sponsored by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would cost more than $1.2 trillion. The Senate version of health care reform, which was introduced by Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and is currently under debate and consideration, is a bargain compared to the House version, at slightly less than $1 trillion.
The Senate version calls for some steep tax increases for high wage earners (click here for story), and the public option aspect of the legislation is meeting with some stiff opposition, even from those in the Democrat party (click here for story). The House version will likely mean millions will be forced onto a government-run plan, and premiums for those with private carries will go through the roof.
But enough about the pesky legislation dealing with “human” health care. What about “pet parents,” that group of people who think that they should get tax breaks for vet visits for their dogs and cats? A representative of the ASPCA says, after all, that they are “part of the family” and deserve the same type of financial assistance as would, say, a parent taking a young child with H1N1 to the emergency room. (click here to read the ASPCA’s to action)
Plus, say others, such a bill would be good for the economy. (click here for story)
And hey, if the folks at ReptileChannel.com are for it (click here), then it can’t be half bad.
As if taking over one-sixth of our nation’s economy, raising taxes and increasing premiums, and shifting millions of people to a government-run health plan like the highly successful Medicare and Medicaid programs isn’t enough, we now have elected public servants in Washington who want to waste the taxpayers time and money on nonsense such as this.
Tax hikes for health care reform, and tax breaks for pet vet visits? via IFAwebnews.com .
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