We already know that one of the things making Obamacare repeal such a priority for the Republicans is the massive tax cuts it means for the wealthiest Republicans. The top 400 earners in the country could receive a tax break of $346 billion over the next 10 years when tax provisions of the law are gone. That's $346 billion. As if that wasn't enough, look what they're planning for rich tax dodgers.
One of the Obamacare tax provisions now at risk of being killed by lawmakers is aimed at cracking down on tax shelters. Known among experts as the "economic substance doctrine," it targets sham transactions used by businesses and wealthy individuals to avoid paying taxes.
Though it has little to do with health care — Democrats only tapped the provision because it produced billions in savings, and they were desperate for ways to defray the ACA's cost — it may now fall by the wayside as part of the repeal effort.
The provision has been largely overlooked in the debate over rescinding the controversial health program, but some warn nixing it presents some political risk to Republicans.
"I don't think the Republicans want to be politically exposed to [charges that] 'well, now you've made the world safe for tax weasels,'" said Dean Zerbe, a former Republican tax aide in Congress.
Honestly, at this point do we think Republicans care at all anymore about the political optics of anything? They're trying to ram through a repeal bill that would take health care away from millions of people. If they're fine with the optics of doing that, what's another big tax gift to their cronies?
They have no shame. At all.