On the Blog: The Individual Mandate is a Tax

Not long ago, President Obama denied that the “individual mandate” requiring people to buy health insurance is a tax. But the Obama Administration is now arguing that it is. Is there anything you can do about it? Read more in a post entitled: “The Individual Mandate—It’s a Tax.”

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Featured Items

This week, the House will debate the “Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act”—the name House leadership is using for H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. A new version of the bill will extend unemployment benefits.

No cost estimate is available for the new bill. The current estimate placing the bill at over $300 per U.S. family applies to the old version.

The Senate will debate H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010.

The bill would create a Small Business Lending Fund and authorize the Treasury Department to invest up to $30 billion in small financial institutions that plan to increase lending to small businesses.

H.R. 5297 also would create a Small Business Credit Initiative and authorize $2 billion in spending to assist states with their efforts to increase the amount of capital made available by private lenders to small businesses.

Passage of H.R. 5297 would cost the average U.S. family just under $30.

H.R. 4213
The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act
Costs $312.89 per family

H.R. 5297
The Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010
Saves $40.54 per family

What People Think

The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act 45% For, 55% Against Vote on this Bill

The Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 55% For, 45% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

New Items

H.R. 5266
The National Commission on Children and Disasters Reauthorization Act of 2010
Costs $0.04 per family

S. 3606
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011
Costs $1,212.92 per family

S. 3119
The Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act
Costs $2.51 per family

S. 3386
The Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 5604
The Surface Transportation Savings Act of 2010
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 2941
The Republic of the Marshall Islands Supplemental Nuclear Compensation Act of 2010
Costs $0.45 per family

S. 2739
The Puget Sound Recovery Act of 2009
Costs $3.38 per family

H.R. 5105
To establish a Chief Veterinary Officer in the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 5545
To deauthorize a portion of the project for navigation, Potomac River, Washington Channel, District of Columbia, under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 3515
The Department of the Interior Research and Technologies for Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 2010
Costs $2.06 per family

S. 3550
The Columbia River Basin Restoration Act of 2010
Costs $0.93 per family

S. 773
The Cybersecurity Act of 2009
Costs $12.32 per family

H.R. 4645
The Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 5301
To extend the period during which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and States are prohibited from requiring a permit under section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for certain discharges that are incidental to normal operation of vessels
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 5503
The Securing Protections for the Injured from Limitations on Liability Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 1043
The Deafy Glade Land Exchange Act
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 2907
The Federal Land Avalanche Protection Act of 2009
Costs $0.14 per family

H.R. 762
To validate final patent number 27-2005-0081, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1311
The Gulf of Mexico Restoration and Protection Act
Costs $0.76 per family

S. 1719
A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Alta, Utah
Costs $0.00 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 2476
The Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2009
Costs $0.03 per family

H.R. 4715
The Clean Estuaries Act of 2010
Costs $2.81 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 111-202
A bill to permanently authorize Radio Free Asia, and for other purposes
Costs $1.65 per family