March 29, 2010 /

How Unprecedented Are Mandates?

This unprecedented: In July, 1798, Congress passed, and President John Adams signed into law “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen,” authorizing the creation of a marine hospital service, and mandating privately employed sailors to purchase healthcare insurance. This legislation also created America’s first payroll tax, as a ship’s owner was required […]

This unprecedented:

In July, 1798, Congress passed, and President John Adams signed into law “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen,” authorizing the creation of a marine hospital service, and mandating privately employed sailors to purchase healthcare insurance.

This legislation also created America’s first payroll tax, as a ship’s owner was required to deduct 20 cents from each sailor’s monthly pay and forward those receipts to the service, which in turn provided injured sailors hospital care. Failure to pay or account properly was discouraged by requiring a law violating owner or ship’s captain to pay a 100 dollar fine.

So unprecedented that they were only enacted by the 2nd President of the United States. I guess all those AGs suing over the “constitutionality” of the mandate didn’t really do their homework.

Adding….I  think we can also safely assume that the Texas Board of Education will be meeting this week to remove John Adams from the history books also.

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