… and Biden continues to lie brazenly…

Seems Ol’ lyin’ Joe is at it again, this time his lie was caught up by WaPo.

John McCain and Sarah Palin “are proposing the largest increase on middle class taxpayers in American history….It will cost the middle class over one trillion dollars in additional taxes. It is almost unbelievable.” –Joe Biden campaign rally, Greensburg, PA. September 25, 2008.

It seems Biden conveniently overlooks the fact that McCain is offering tax-payers a credit that should cover the cost of going out and buying insurance.

John McCain wants to drastically overhaul the health insurance system in order to encourage Americans to go out and buy their own health care plans rather than relying on employer-based plans. To achieve this, he plans to tax employer-provided health benefits and provide a $2,500 tax credit ($5,000 for families) toward the cost of health insurance.

By most independent calculations, the McCain plan will leave most taxpayers better off in strictly financial terms, at least until 2013. After 2013, the benefits will begin to diminish. By 2018, taxpayers in the top quintile will be slightly worse off, but middle-income taxpayers will either break even or be slightly ahead. According to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center, the McCain proposals will result in a net benefit of $1,241 to the average tax payer in 2009, $895 in 2013, and $386 in 2018.

“It is not fair to pull out just one part of the McCain proposal,” said Eric Toder, a TPC analyst. “It is a package. They are giving back more than they are taking away.”

Ed Morrissey over @ Hotair had the following insight:

One can argue as to whether this plan is effective, but one thing that it isn’t is a massive new tax burden on the middle class. As the TPC notes, it actually lessens the tax burden on the middle class for the foreseeable future. It also puts capital into a free-market environment, which will open new opportunities in health insurance and allow people to get as much or as little insurance as they need or desire. McCain’s plan would not increase costs or decrease revenues while it solves one of the biggest stumbling blocks in making health insurance accessible to all.

Biden and Barack Obama simply can’t compete with that plan. Instead, they just lie about it in order to scare voters, but the real fear is that McCain could take leadership on health care from their own statist, top-down, Medicare-Squared approach. Four Pinocchios may not be enough for this lie.

Posted by PUMA Pundit