Obama: health bill tax credits largest in history

President Obama on Monday told an audience in Strongsville, Ohio that tax credits included in his health reform proposal would be the largest health-related tax break the middle-class has ever seen.

 “My proposal also says that if you still can’t afford the insurance in this new marketplace, we will offer you tax credits to do so – tax credits that add up to the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history,” he said.

The tax credits will help reduce premium costs purchased on the open market by 14 to 20 percent, and employer-supplied coverage would fall by as much as $3,000 per person, Obama said in his speech.

The president’s health care proposal provides tax credits on a sliding scale that are based on income.

Still, polling by the Independent Women’s Voice found “majorities of ‘middle class’ voters were discouraged from supporting the legislation despite their potential to gain from subsidies.” Taxpayers earning between $20,000 and $69,000 annually were most opposed. Surveys were conducted between Mar. 8 and 10 and results were released on Monday.

The study also found 62 percent of men and 58 percent of women surveyed would support a candidate in the upcoming election who opposed the health care reform proposal that the House is expected to vote on later this week.