Value Added Tax on Table for Health Care Reform, Emanuel's Brother Advising Orzag

While legislators discuss ways to pay for health care reform, many ideas are on the table. Taxing employer sponsored health insurance sits at the top of the list. A Value Added Tax, effectively a national sales tax, is also under consideration. WaPo reported:

A White House official said a VAT is "unlikely to be in the mix" as a means to pay for health-care reform. "While we do not want to rule any credible idea in or out as we discuss the way forward with Congress, the VAT tax, in particular, is popular with academics but highly controversial with policymakers," said Kenneth Baer, a spokesman for White House Budget Director Peter Orszag.

Still, Orszag has hired a prominent VAT advocate to advise him on health care: Ezekiel Emanuel, brother of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and author of the 2008 book "Health Care, Guaranteed."

All signs point to the individual footing the bill for health care reform. Business won't pay. They're shedding health insurance costs to the employee, even dumping the benefit entirely. Government is tapped out. That leaves the worker to pony up.

The Obama White House is similar to the Bush version. For-profit health care industry insiders plan health care reform and family members stand to benefit from the change. Look up William H.T. Bush, otherwise known as Uncle Bucky. Some people are Well-A-Pointed...