Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Obamacare Guessing Game: What Does THIS Regulate??

I had the priviliege to read some of the Obamacare regulations from the Federal Register today. My. My. It has so many words and says so little it rivals a female pre-teen.


Let's see how smart you guys are. See if you can find what this section of Obamacare is trying to regulate. Hints: This particular issue is addressed in 6 pages of tiny print written in three columns. (this is just an excerpt)  It must be quite complex, as it includes six definitions (many with sub-definitions) and seven examples. The issue listed directly after this one concerns the Coast Guard and regulates marine events off the coast of Atlantic City on the 4th Sunday of June. Cookies to the first one who can put this into English. Best of luck.


It has been determined that this
Treasury decision is not a significant
regulatory action as defined in
Executive Order 12866, as
supplemented by Executive Order
13563. Therefore, a regulatory
assessment is not required. It also has
been determined that section 553(b) of
the Administrative Procedure Act (5
U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these
regulations. It is hereby certified that
these regulations will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
This certification is based on the fact
that these regulations are designed to
accommodate the recordkeeping
methods currently used by small
entities that provide indoor tanning
services. The regulations merely
implement the tax imposed by section
5000B of the Code, and section 6001 of
the Code already requires taxpayers to
keep books and records sufficient to
show whether or not they are liable for
tax. The information necessary to
prepare these records is readily
available to providers, and this
recordkeeping will take little additional
time to complete.

*Bonus: The next heading after the preceding was PART 602—OMB CONTROL NUMBERS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT. I don't claim to understand 10% of this gobbledy gook, but I found it ironic that anyone could put the words "Paperwork Reduction Act" in a document eight times as long as the Bible. Obviously, they put that phrase in repeatedly.

6 comments:

  1. "It's totally cool for us to burden you with a tanning tax."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cookies to Harvey! Yes it's true: 6 pages about taxing tanning. Good thing I'm comfortable in my lily-white-ness. :)

      Delete
    2. Yay!

      In honor of your color, I want coconut marshmallow no-bake cookies with vanilla chips :-)

      Delete
  2. I believe this segment has something to do with the coverage of hernias resulting from the use of a hand truck to transport a copy of the full text of the Affordable Care Act.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Paperwork, schmaperwork - just send us the money."

    ReplyDelete