Gielow's Going to Be Sec'y DIHLR? DHFS?

Right Off the Shore tells us all about AB 1140, introduced by Kurt Gielow (he's an HR consultant in real life.)

It's the Wisconsin Socialized Medicine plan, and fits right into a rumor that's been running around for a while: that Gielow will be made HHS Sec'y by the next Pubbie Governor. Evidently this is the reason--or is the payback, or whatever.

There is ONE good provision in this bill: "adopting federal law as it relates to health savings accounts for state income and franchise tax purposes." As we've mentioned before, Wisconsin's tax laws are not in sync with the Fed's on HSA's--nor on HRA's for that matter. Too bad Gielow didn't include the HRA portion.

Oh yeah: how to pay?

This is the really tricky part. AB 1140 reads, “Although the bill does not provide a funding source or mechanism, the accounts and HSAs are to be funded beginning in 2009, which is also when coverage under PHIPA begins.”

This bill ain’t gonna fund ‘em, but gosh darn it, they are going to be funded in 2009. According to a little birdie, the funds are going to come from a proposed tax ("fee") on businesses in Wisconsin. This tax/fee, according to the source, would range anywhere from 8%-15%. [of payroll, we assume.]

Kurt--when you find common cause with Jon Richards, you've been looking for love in all the wrong places.

MASSIVE Hat Tip to Jenna!