Need health policy changes

The health care debate is about money. Where does it come from and who receives it? GOP may keep some Obama tax increases on the rich to save it. We all agree everyone should have access to health care, so how do we fund it?

All corporate employees who receive health care via their employer should pay tax on those benefits. The IRS code states that any economic benefit received is a taxable event. Determine a value, tax the employee and earmark those funds toward health care. Any matching IRA contributions by employers to their employees should be taxed and earmarked for Social Security retirement under the same reasoning.

It’s time for the government to acquire a generic drug manufacturer and provide drugs at its cost to its recipients. Drug prices are rising much faster than wages.

We better act now. The central banks around the world indicated they want to normalize interest rates soon. An increase of two full interest rate point hikes would add potentially $400 billion to the deficit since the debt now stands at $20 trillion. This would take away discretionary spending, meaning more taxes and less spending on health care and Social Security benefits.

Gregory Ruff

Spokane