SpiderBug (Micrommata virescens?) [PHOTO]

I saw this fellow making his way along the wall while I was working in the garden. My camera isn’t that great on closeups, but I think it’s a baby Micrommata virescens / Green Huntsman Spider. The fellow was much greener than the photo shows, but this was the best image of the lot.

SpiderBug

SpiderBug

I thought it was a grasshopper at first with that elongated abdomen and bright green color.

Table of annual fines for not participating in healthcare plan

If you’re thinking of not joining the healthcare plan that was just signed, Bloomberg just detailed what the annual fines for 2015-2016 would be.

“Individuals who don’t purchase insurance would be subject to a fine of $325 in 2015 and $695 in 2016. Individuals may be subject to a charge equal to as much as 2.5 percent of their income in 2016, if the total is greater than the flat payment.”

So going with the 2.5 percent of income as the basis of the tax / fine, and looking at salaries right as the $695 minimum kicks in, this is what you will have to pay if you choose not to participate in the healthcare plan and have no insurance at all…

INCOME FINE REMAINING
$25,000.00 $625.00 $24,375.00
$30,000.00 $750.00 $29,250.00
$35,000.00 $875.00 $34,125.00
$40,000.00 $1,000.00 $39,000.00
$45,000.00 $1,125.00 $43,875.00
$50,000.00 $1,250.00 $48,750.00
$55,000.00 $1,375.00 $53,625.00
$60,000.00 $1,500.00 $58,500.00
$65,000.00 $1,625.00 $63,375.00
$70,000.00 $1,750.00 $68,250.00
$75,000.00 $1,875.00 $73,125.00
$80,000.00 $2,000.00 $78,000.00
$85,000.00 $2,125.00 $82,875.00
$90,000.00 $2,250.00 $87,750.00
$95,000.00 $2,375.00 $92,625.00
$100,000.00 $2,500.00 $97,500.00
$105,000.00 $2,625.00 $102,375.00
$110,000.00 $2,750.00 $107,250.00
$115,000.00 $2,875.00 $112,125.00
$120,000.00 $3,000.00 $117,000.00
$125,000.00 $3,125.00 $121,875.00
$130,000.00 $3,250.00 $126,750.00
$135,000.00 $3,375.00 $131,625.00
$140,000.00 $3,500.00 $136,500.00
$145,000.00 $3,625.00 $141,375.00
$150,000.00 $3,750.00 $146,250.00
$155,000.00 $3,875.00 $151,125.00
$160,000.00 $4,000.00 $156,000.00
$165,000.00 $4,125.00 $160,875.00
$170,000.00 $4,250.00 $165,750.00
$175,000.00 $4,375.00 $170,625.00
$180,000.00 $4,500.00 $175,500.00
$185,000.00 $4,625.00 $180,375.00
$190,000.00 $4,750.00 $185,250.00
$195,000.00 $4,875.00 $190,125.00
$200,000.00 $5,000.00 $195,000.00
$205,000.00 $5,125.00 $199,875.00
$210,000.00 $5,250.00 $204,750.00
$215,000.00 $5,375.00 $209,625.00
$220,000.00 $5,500.00 $214,500.00
$225,000.00 $5,625.00 $219,375.00
$230,000.00 $5,750.00 $224,250.00
$235,000.00 $5,875.00 $229,125.00
$240,000.00 $6,000.00 $234,000.00
$245,000.00 $6,125.00 $238,875.00
$250,000.00 $6,250.00 $243,750.00

Ouch.

Here’s the link to the Bloomberg article.

Virginia and 10 other states plan to file lawsuit after Obama signs healthcare bill

Here’s the kickoff for the second quarter….

According to an article on REUTERS, “Virginia’s attorney general said he plans to sue the federal government over the healthcare reform legislation, saying Congress lacks authority to force people to buy health insurance.”

Over at CNN, they report 10 other states plan to sue as well. (Florida, Alabama, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.)

The gist of the state’s lawsuits is that the federal government can not force people to buy health insurance and this federal mandate conflicts with some of their pre-existing state laws as well.

Bill McCollum, the Republican attorney general of Florida, said in the CNN article “There’s no way we can do what’s required in this bill and still provide for education, for foster care, for the incarceration of prisoners, all the other things that are in this bill.”

In the same CNN article, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said “the Obama administration expected to win any lawsuits filed against the health care bill.”

Maybe the feds will throw Gonzales v. Raich up as their defense, but they can also just drop the “mandatory” insurance part and tax everyone flat out to sidestep this lawsuit.

I’ll be at the concession stand.

The Reuters story about Virginia is here and the CNN story about the additional states is here.

Want to co-sign the healthcare bill?

Just saw this in my inbox…

“President Obama will soon sign comprehensive health care reform into law. Supporters now have a chance to add our names as “Co-signers” of this historic legislation — adding our names next to President Obama’s to show our pride in helping bring about this great achievement. Organizing for America will establish a permanent archive with all the signatures, so that generations to come will have a record of those who stood together in this moment and won this fight for our future.”

The email was sent by “Organizing for America”, which is a project of the Democratic National Committee.

If you like, head over to http://my.barackobama.com/Cosign to sign up. The site will ask you for your first and last name, email address and zip code.

I’m waiting for the “Hey, that’s not what I wanted” site to go up!