Can you solve the deficit?

[EasyEd]

The telecommunications industry is taxed and forced by the FCC to contribute to this fund. So, it's the industry stockholders that contribute to the fund. And, the companies, of course, don't just eat this expense, reflecting all or part of it in your monthly bill. Another hidden tax.

www.usac.org/fund-administration/about/how-universal-service-fund-works.aspx

[ksf42001]

Feb 18, 2011 19:29:15 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

The telecommunications industry is taxed and forced by the FCC to contribute to this fund. So, it's the industry stockholders that contribute to the fund. And, the companies, of course, don't just eat this expense, reflecting all or part of it in your monthly bill. Another hidden tax.

www.usac.org/fund-administration/about/how-universal-service-fund-works.aspx

Yes, and banks pass on their required contributions to the FDIC as well, that doesn't make account protection a bad thing. While I don't like the no documentation component, I have absolutely no problem with the poor getting a minimum of access to phone communication, since not having a phone makes securing employment 1000 times more difficult.

[kchoya]

I can solve the deficit - just ask gov't employees to contribute to their pension and pay 12% of their health care. That should go over smoothly.

[EasyEd]

Federal government employees contribute 7% of their gross income to their pension/annuity and contribute varying amounts to their health care insurance, depending on the plan they sign up for. As a retired federal employee we pay $265 a month for family (spouse and me) Basic Blue Cross insurance. This is to supplement Medicare, Part B which costs us $193 a month. Basic Blue Cross is one of several choices employees and retirees have and the choice is up to the person to acquire more or less coverage and associated premiums.

By contrast, many state employees pay nothing into either their retirement or health insurance while others do pay something into them.

[kchoya]

Feb 19, 2011 10:35:05 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

Federal government employees contribute 7% of their gross income to their pension/annuity and contribute varying amounts to their health care insurance, depending on the plan they sign up for. As a retired federal employee we pay $265 a month for family (spouse and me) Basic Blue Cross insurance. This is to supplement Medicare, Part B which costs us $193 a month. Basic Blue Cross is one of several choices employees and retirees have and the choice is up to the person to acquire more or less coverage and associated premiums.

By contrast, many state employees pay nothing into either their retirement or health insurance while others do pay something into them.

That's a pretty cheap insurance premium. You're lucky.

[EasyEd]

How do you know it's pretty cheap insurance if you don't know what it covers?