06-07-2012 20:56 New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne discuss the week's top political news, including the dismal June jobs report, why the stimulus recovery plan hasn't had a greater effect, and Mitt Romney's health care message and evolving relationship with the conservative base.

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Brooks, Dionne on Jobs Report, Romney's Health Care Message - Video

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER Associated Press twitter.com/stephenatap

WASHINGTON The Supreme Courts decision to uphold most of President Barack Obamas health care law will come home to roost for most taxpayers in about 2 years, when theyll have to start providing proof on their tax returns that they have health insurance.

That scenario puts the Internal Revenue Service at the center of the debate, renewing questions about whether the agency is capable of policing the health care decisions of millions of people in the United States while also collecting the taxes needed to run the federal government.

Under the law, the IRS will provide tax breaks and incentives to help pay for health insurance and impose penalties on some people who dont buy coverage and on some businesses that dont offer it to employees.

The changes will require new regulations, forms and publications, new computer programs and a big new outreach program to explain it all to taxpayers and tax professionals. Businesses that dont claim an exemption will have to prove they offer health insurance to employees.

The health care law includes the largest set of tax law changes in more than 20 years, according to the Treasury inspector general who oversees the IRS. The agency will have to hire thousands of workers to manage it, requiring significant budget increases that already are being targeted by congressional Republicans determined to dismantle the presidents signature initiative.

Knowing the complexity of the health law, theres no question that the IRS is going to struggle with this, said Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-La., chairman of the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee. The IRS wants more resources. Well, we need to start digging down into what are they doing with the resources and personnel.

Treasury spokeswoman Sabrina Siddiqui said, The overwhelming majority of funds used by the agency to implement the Affordable Care Act go to administer the premium tax credits, which will be a tax cut averaging about $4,000 for more than 20 million middle-class people and families.

The Supreme Court, in its 5-4 ruling on June 28, upheld the mandate that most Americans get health insurance. The majority, including Chief Justice John Roberts, said Congress has the power to enforce the mandate under its taxing authority. The decision labeled the penalties a tax, noting they will be collected by the IRS.

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Policing compliance with health care law will fall largely to IRS

OREM-- Several doctors, dentists and other health care providers in Utah Valley will be honored Monday night by Community Health Connect at the Orem Owlz baseball game. CHC is holding it third annual Family Night for the employees of the medical and dental offices who volunteer their time and services to help low-income and uninsured residents get the care they need. According to CHC, volunteer services for the year 2011 included 280 health care professionals helping more than 750 patients by donating more than 3,000 appointments valued at more than $1 million.

Families and employees of those that have donated services will be treated to a pre-game tailgate barbecue and tickets to the game.

"This is just a thank you for the doctors and dentists that donate," said Starr Stratford, executive director at Community Health Connect. "They don't get a lot of benefit except that it feels good to donate, they do it because they are good people and this gives us a chance to tell them thanks and let them know how much we appreciate what they do."

Five of the many local health care professionals will be spotlighted between innings at the baseball game at Brent Brown Ball Field at UVU starting at 7:05 p.m.

Those being honored include Rod Angus, owner of Angus Dental Labs. Angus has donated more than 35 crowns since beginning work with CHC in 2011. Dr. Karl Weenig specialized in sports medicine and orthopedic care, donating to more than 20 patients needing specialized care this year. Dr. Jennifer Tittensor is a general surgeon who works with Utah County Surgical Associates in American Fork performing a wide variety of surgeries ranging from hernia repair to gallbladder removal. Tittensor has volunteered with CHC for more than five years, providing surgery for more than 40 patients.

Dr. Duane Nelson, ophthalmologist at Utah Valley Eye Center, has donated his time for more than seven years. Nelson says he does it because of the great need in the community.

"I think there is a lot of folks who have need for health care who can't afford it for various reasons and this is just a good way to be able to help," Nelson said. "It is a good thing, helps society out and I just know that we all face various challenges and needs and this is one way of sort of paying it forward or giving it back to those who have helped me along the way."

Dr. Jason Allan, an instructor at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene, will throw out the first pitch on Monday. The college has donated more than 400 appointments to patients in need of dental care.

"There really are people who don't have access to care so these are really vital services for the community and a section of the population that otherwise wouldn't be receiving services," Stratford said. "These doctors help provide speciality medical care in their own offices and it is a lot less expensive for the whole community."

Community Health Connect is a non-profit health agency in Utah County that connects low-income, uninsured Utah County residents with volunteer doctors and dentists throughout the community who see qualifying patients free of charge in their own offices. More information on Community Health Connect can be found at http://www.communityhealthconnect.org.

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Local health care providers to be honored at baseball game

WASHINGTONThe Supreme Court's decision to uphold most of President Barack Obama's health care law will come home to roost for most taxpayers in about 2 1/2 years, when they'll have to start providing proof on their tax returns that they have health insurance.

That scenario puts the Internal Revenue Service at the center of the debate, renewing questions about whether the agency is capable of policing the health care decisions of millions of people in the United States while also collecting the taxes needed to run the federal government.

Under the law, the IRS will provide tax breaks and incentives to help pay for health insurance and impose penalties on some people who don't buy coverage and on some businesses that don't offer it to employees.

The changes will require new regulations, forms and publications, new computer programs and a big new outreach program to explain it all to taxpayers and tax professionals. Businesses that don't claim an exemption will have to prove they offer health insurance to employees.

The health care law "includes the largest set of tax law changes in more than 20 years," according to the Treasury inspector general who oversees the IRS. The agency will have to hire thousands of workers to manage it, requiring significant budget increases that already are being targeted by congressional Republicans determined to dismantle the president's signature initiative.

"Knowing the complexity of the health law, there's no question that the IRS is going to struggle with this," said Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-La., chairman of the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee. "The IRS wants more resources. Well, we need to start digging down into what are they doing with the resources and personnel."

Treasury spokeswoman Sabrina Siddiqui said, "The overwhelming majority of funds used by the agency to implement the Affordable Care Act go to administer the premium tax credits, which will be a tax cut averaging about $4,000 for more than 20 million middle-class people and families."

The Supreme Court, in its 5-4 ruling, upheld the mandate that most Americans get health insurance. The majority said Congress has the power to enforce the mandate under its taxing authority. The decision labeled the penalties a tax, noting that they will be collected by the IRS.

Those who don't get qualified health insurance will be required to pay the penalty -- or tax -- starting for the 2014 tax year, unless they are exempt because of low income, religious beliefs, or because they are members of American Indian tribes.

The penalty will be fully phased in by 2016, when it will be $695 for each uninsured adult or 2.5 percent of family income, whichever is greater, up to $12,500. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that 4 million people will pay the penalty that year.

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The tax man cometh to police you on health care

Police: Shunick suspect not cooperating Police: Shunick suspect not cooperating

Updated: Friday, July 6 2012 4:50 PM EDT2012-07-06 20:50:31 GMT

Updated: Thursday, July 5 2012 11:06 AM EDT2012-07-05 15:06:06 GMT

Updated: Friday, July 6 2012 8:00 PM EDT2012-07-07 00:00:06 GMT

Updated: Friday, July 6 2012 5:27 PM EDT2012-07-06 21:27:00 GMT

Updated: Friday, July 6 2012 2:15 PM EDT2012-07-06 18:15:26 GMT

As health care providers await the state's plan to cut $859 million from the Medicaid program over the next two years, many are worrying.

Louisiana Hospital Association President John Matessino says that Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration must act quickly because a longer delay will mean deeper cuts over a shorter period of time.

Supported Living Network executive Bruce Blaney wants the Legislature to convene a special session to repeal some tax exemptions, as well as to tap health care trust funds.

The Medicaid program is funded by a combination of federal and state money, paying for health services for the poor, uninsured, disabled and elderly. The cuts mean an 11 percent reduction from the $7.7 billion Medicaid budget that had been planned for the fiscal year.

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La. health care providers brace for Medicaid cuts

AP photoRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks about the Supreme Court ruling on health care in Washington. President Barack Obama and Romney say the Supreme Courts decision last week upholding the presidents health care law gives them each advantages in the roughly dozen of states they are contesting most aggressively.

DES MOINES, Iowa President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney both are using the Supreme Court decision upholding the federal health care insurance requirement, loved by liberals and hated by conservatives, to rally core supporters in the most competitive states in the presidential race.

Yet while each side may be benefiting from groundswells of volunteers and money, the ruling seems unlikely to sway the legions of undecided voters who are focused heavily on the economy not on the health care debate that has raged in this country for years.

As a result, Republicans and Democrats alike say how the health care ruling influences a race that polls show is close will depend on how the campaigns use it to ramp up activity in the dozen or so states that Obama and Romney are contesting most aggressively.

Whoever gets the organizational advantage ... thats the real impact of the decision, said Jesse Harris, who led Obamas 2008 early vote effort in Iowa. In a state like this, that could be decisive.

A week after the decision, Democrat Obamas campaign is pointing to swollen ranks of campaign volunteers, in places like Iowa and Michigan, who have been emboldened to protect the health care overhaul now that it has been declared the law of the land. Opponents had argued that the requirement that all individuals to buy health insurance was a constitutional overreach.

The law I passed is here to stay, Obama said to applause in Ohio this week.

Republican challenger Romney says the anger on the right has boosted fundraising in presidential battlegrounds, with millions in small-dollar contributions pouring in from conservatives who see the former Massachusetts governor as the last hope for getting the law repealed.

What the court did not do on its last day in session, I will do on my first day if elected president of the United States. And that is I will act to repeal Obamacare, Romney said last week in response to the ruling.

Americans across the country, and in the most hotly contested states like Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia remain skeptical about Obamas signature policy accomplishment. Several polls taken in the last year in key states show narrow majorities opposing the law and supporting its repeal.

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Health care law becomes a campaign rallying point

SYRACUSE, NY Former Democratic Rep. Dan Maffei lost in 2010 after facing heat over his health care vote and hed like to just move on as he tries to regain his seat in 2012. GOP Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle beat Maffei by running on an anti Obamacare platform and shes more than happy to keep talking about the Supreme Court ruling from last week.

Something will have to give in this evenly divided, upstate New York swing district that pits a rematch between a self described Big D Democrat and an unapologetic conservative. Buerkle, who won in 2010 by a mere 648 votes, is on board with repealing the health care law and Maffei doesnt see the need to relive the nightmare of 2009s health care debate now that the Supreme Court has ruled.

I dont think people want to repeat past battles over and over again. The health care bill is the law of the land, the court ruled it constitutional, so lets improve it, said Maffei. You dont like whats in it? Give me a suggestion, Im open minded, but lets move forwardlets get past these partisan debates. Lets focus on jobs and the economy.

Its a theme thats sure to play out in swing districts across the country. Democrats will argue that the Supreme Court has spoken on the health care law, and try turn the conversation toward improving the economy. Republicans will say the law even though parts of it are popular tramples on individual freedoms and is a burdensome regulatory juggernaut.

Which side wins the debate in this district may be an important national barometer for how health care plays out in swing districts, with independent voters, across the country.

And its a particularly critical debate in a region where the recession still lingers, manufacturing jobs have gone away, and voters are suspicious that either party in Washington can help improve their way of life, especially when it comes to health care.

(Also on POLITICO: Zombia economy threatens Obama)

They have to come together somehow to get the economy growing again, said retired Fair Haven resident Harris Brown, who says he will most likely vote for Buerkle again, but would like to see Washingtons partisanship toned down. If the economy is good, then health care will take care of itself.

Buerkle, however, has embraced the freshman warrior role, even as she represents a fairly moderate district.

She is one of the most conservative members of the House and Republican leadership continues to tap her to speak out on the health care law. She was one of a handful of lawmakers to address the press with Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor immediately after the health care ruling and she gave the national Republican address on the topic over the weekend. For her, the repeal of the health care law is directly linked to economic recovery the area needs. One example, she says, is a local medical device factory that will soon be subject to a 2.3 percent tax should the law fully take effect.

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Health care ruling could tip races

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Critics of Health Care Law Prepare to Battle Over Insurance Exchange Subsidies