PRINTER'S NO.  2043

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

343

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY KOTIK, SAINATO, PALLONE, SOLOBAY, MUSTIO, DePASQUALE, MIRABITO, McILVAINE SMITH, STABACK, KIRKLAND, HORNAMAN, MENSCH, SIPTROTH, O'NEILL, BAKER, M. O'BRIEN, MARSHALL, SWANGER, HESS, MELIO, KULA, READSHAW, D. COSTA, SAYLOR AND FREEMAN, JUNE 9, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, JUNE 9, 2009  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Memorializing the United States Congress to not impose tax on

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employer-paid health insurance benefits.

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WHEREAS, Proposals have been introduced in Congress to tax

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employer-paid health insurance benefits as a way to partially

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fund health care reform efforts; and

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WHEREAS, For 55 years, Congress has excluded from income

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taxes the cost of employer-provided health care; and

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WHEREAS, Employer contributions to the premiums of their

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employees' health insurance is currently considered a tax-

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deductible business expense; and

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WHEREAS, Approximately 60% of individuals under 65 years of

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age receive health insurance through their employers; and

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WHEREAS, The average cost of health insurance for an

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individual is approximately $4,000 per year; and

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WHEREAS, If taxable, health insurance benefits would increase

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the tax burden on a middle class family by approximately $1,250

 


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annually; and

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WHEREAS, During the current economic downturn, a tax increase

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would make it more difficult for those with low and moderate

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incomes to pay their bills; and

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WHEREAS, Many individuals could find themselves paying taxes

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on their health insurance even if they do not have to visit a

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physician's office or hospital in a given year; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the United States

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Congress to not impose tax on employer-paid health insurance

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benefits; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

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the President of the United States, the presiding officers of

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each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from

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Pennsylvania.

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