Health care overhaul funding tackled

Las Vegas members of Congress agree -- the nation's health care system needs to be reformed.

The best way to achieve that is up for discussion.

In Washington, House Democrats are close to developing a bill that would apply an income tax surcharge to individuals with gross incomes of more than $200,000 and families with incomes of more than $250,000.

The legislation isn't official, and the tax surcharge isn't the only item being discussed. But it's a definite step in the right direction, said David Cherry, spokesman for Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

"Look at it this way -- the cost of not having 50 million Americans insured means every single Nevadan pay $1,000 or more per year anyway," said Cherry, referring to the number of uninsured Nevada residents driving up health care costs.

"Nevada has a tremendously high percentage of uninsured residents. In the long run, this saves us a tremendous amount of money," he said.

Berkley is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which is working to have legislation prepared by the weekend.

The potential tax is misleading, according to Republicans.

Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., said it would affect more people than just the rich. "This hits small business," Heller said, noting that almost all small businesses gross more than $250,000. "I have a real problem when you start taxing small businesses at a time when 11 percent of Nevadans are unemployed."

Heller also said national health care is a way for the government to offer insurance for illegal immigrants.

Spokesmen for Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., both said they would wait until the legislation is finalized before commenting. Ensign's spokesman did say the junior senator does not promote a "move toward government takeover" in the health care industry.

A spokesman for Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., also said she'd prefer to wait to see the final product before commenting.