Congress to Pass Bill Forcing Contributions to Democrats

A new bill being introduced today. Read it and weep. Is the new power conferred to Congress to mandate our economic activity a slippery slope? You betcha!

111th Congress
2nd Session
H.R. ____________

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. Rangel introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on _______________

                                A BILL

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the "Affordable Health Care for America's Future Act".

SECTION 2. REQUIREMENT FOR SUPPORTING CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

  (1) In general.--The individual responsibility requirement provided for in this section is commercial and economic in nature, and substantially affects interstate commerce, as a result of the effects described in paragraph (2).

  (2) Effects on the national economy and interstate commerce.--The effects described in this paragraph are the following:

    (A) The requirement regulates activity that is commercial and economic in nature: economic and financial decisions about how and when campaign donations are made, and which candidates are financially supported.

    (B) Only members of the Democratic Party voted for health care reform.

    (C) Health insurance and health care services are a significant part of the national economy.

    (D) The requirement will add millions of new consumers to the health insurance market, increasing the supply of, and demand for, health care services.

  (3) Supreme Court Ruling.--In United States v. South-Eastern Underwriters Association (322 U.S. 533 (1944)), the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that insurance is interstate commerce subject to Federal regulation.

(b) In General.--Subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:

"CHAPTER 49--SUPPORT OF CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES
"Sec. 5000C. Requirement for supporting congressional candidates.

"(a) Requirement for supporting congressional candidates.--An applicable individual shall, for each month beginning after 2010 ensure that the individual contributes to an authorized Democratic Party candidate the minimum contribution for such month.

"(b) Shared Responsibility Payment.--

  "(1) In general.--If an applicable individual fails to meet the requirement of subsection (a) for 1 or more months during any calendar year beginning after 2010, then there is hereby imposed a penalty with respect to the individual in the amount determined under subsection (c).

  "(2) Inclusion with return.--Any penalty imposed by this section with respect to any month shall be included with a taxpayer's return under chapter 1 for the taxable year which includes such month.

"(c) Amount of penalty.--

  "(1) In general.--The penalty determined under this subsection for any month with respect to any individual is an amount equal to 1/12 of the applicable dollar amount for the calendar year.

  "(2) Applicable dollar amount.--For purposes of paragraph (1)--
    "(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the applicable dollar amount is $250.

    "(B) Phase in.--The applicable dollar amount is $100 for 2014 and $150 for 2015.

    "(C) Mitigation.--The applicable dollar amount shall be increased by 200 percent of the total contributions made by applicable individual to other nonauthorized political or public advocacy groups."