Sheila Jackson Lee on Health Care Fine: It’s Not a Penalty, it’s an Incentive

By Doug Powers  •  February 17, 2011 02:20 PM

**Written by Doug Powers

Sheila Jackson Lee makes people laugh on a daily basis, at least until they remember that she’s a member of Congress with control over the lives of others — at which point it’s like discovering that “Dummo the Clown” who’s been entertaining you in the airport terminal is also your pilot.

Hot on the heels of calling her constituents ill-informed and rooting out racially demeaning soft drink ads, Jackson Lee explained why the $750 fine contained in the health-care law for people failing to carry a government-approved health insurance policy is not in fact a penalty:

“I would make the argument, one, that instead it is an incentive to do right — that it is not penalizing because penalty is punishment,” Jackson-Lee told the Judiciary Committee.

“You’re not punished if you have health insurance, in fact. And so you are, in fact, incentivized to have health insurance, rather than take the negative which is to suggest that because we have a penalty you are being punished,” Rep. Jackson-Lee said.

Under Jackson Lee rules, nothing the government does can qualify as a “penalty.”

The definition of “penalty” in the dictionary I use disagrees with Rep. Jackson Lee:

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Granted, the dictionary I use might be biased, because it also contains this entry:

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**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe

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Comments


  1. #1
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:22 pm, spaceycakes said:

    I am at a loss for words. I know, I know, you don’t believe me.

  2. #2
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:25 pm, spaceycakes said:

    rather than take the negative which is to suggest that because we have a penalty you are being punished,” Rep. Jackson-Lee said.

    She must’ve received a C- in that particular leftist course.

  3. #3
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:34 pm, Hangfire said:

    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:22 pm, spaceycakes said:
    I am at a loss for words. I know, I know, you don’t believe me.

    Say it isn’t so, Spacey!

  4. #4
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:35 pm, Hangfire said:

    The floggings will continue until morale improves!

  5. #5
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:36 pm, happyscrapper said:

    She is crazy. We all know that. She proves it every time she opens her mouth. Someone get the net!!

  6. #6
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:36 pm, tre said:

    So Wesley Snipes and Willie Nelson weren’t punished for not paying taxes. They’re “incentivized” to pay taxes.

    HMMMMMM. Maybe I can tell my children that I’m not spanking them for being bad. They’re “incentivized” to be good.

  7. #7
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:37 pm, twiggman said:

    Did she go to school in WI……

  8. #8
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:39 pm, Ty85719 said:

    She probably the type of parent who thinks that beating their kids is love, too

  9. #9
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:39 pm, nail49 said:

    It’s NOT a tax, rather it’s a FEE!

  10. #10
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:41 pm, John Deaux said:

    Would somebody please tell PETA that a cattle prod incentives animals.

  11. #11
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:43 pm, stillontheroad said:

    Sheila Jackson Lee: Dumb as a box of rocks, stupid as a post, Thick as a Brick

  12. #12
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:44 pm, RTater said:

    If the people of Houston ever develop the mental capacity to do so, they should be ashamed of their votes.

  13. #13
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:45 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    (while slapping the stupid cow across the face)

    Are you incentivized yet!

  14. #14
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:47 pm, plymouthacclaim said:

    Remember, all our money belongs to Big Brother. They incentivise you by giving you some of it back. That’s how these donks think.

  15. #15
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:54 pm, docflash said:

    That is the late Barbara Jordons district.She was a fine rep.SJL is a northern carpetbagger.There is no hope for that district.She could kill her grandmother and get reelected.

  16. #16
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:56 pm, granite said:

    P.S.
    Could someone please translate what Jackson-Lee is saying into English?

  17. #17
    On February 17th, 2011 at 2:59 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    This is the same woman who asked NASA if the Mars rover would be able to see the flag left by the astronauts…..

    You can’t cure stupid, but it would be best not to elect them….

  18. #18
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:01 pm, letget said:

    I am so thankful I don’t live in this ding bats district. If there is not a redistricting of her seat, she will be re-elected, that is how stupid the voters there are! Sorry to any here that live there and don’t vote for her.
    L

  19. #19
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:03 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Sheila Jackson Lee ties in very nicely with the Bert and Elmo, aardvarks and such piece. If can can get PBS de-funded will she go away too? Yes Sheila Jackson Lee makes me laugh and then I cry for my country.

    Bank robbers were a great “Incentive” for video cameras; bank robbers do not steal half as much as these CongressCritters and their attendant vermin.
    ===
    Cut the budget:

    Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
    should be a convenience store,
    NOT a government agency.

  20. #20
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:06 pm, txvet2 said:

    I wonder when her constituents are going to get embarrassed enough by this nitwit to get rid of her. Oh, yeah. They agree with her.

  21. #21
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:07 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    I would make the argument, one, that instead it is an incentive to do right — that it is not penalizing because penalty is punishment.

    A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

  22. #22
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:08 pm, txvet2 said:

    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:01 pm, letget said:

    With 4 new seats, they’ll undoubtedly reorganize her district, but all they’ll do is compact more lib voters into it so they can create more Republican districts. She’ll be re-elected forever.

  23. #23
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:10 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    TooMuchTime done said he did:

    A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

    Excellent ;)

  24. #24
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:15 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    Sheila Jackson Lee: Dumb as a box of rocks, stupid as a post, Thick as a Brick.

    My favorite Foghorn Leghorn quotes:

    That boy’s as sharp as a bowlin’ ball.

    Nice girl, but about as sharp as a sack of wet mice.

    That boy’s as thick as a whale sandwich.

    Ah say, son…

  25. #25
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:19 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    Let’s incentivize the illegal aliens to go home by enacting a 50% fee on wire transfers.

  26. #26
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:24 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    Could someone please translate what Jackson-Lee is saying into English?

    Achtung!

    Ab sofort gibt es keine Strafen! Alle Gebühren erlegten durch die Regierung werden jetzt benannt Anreize auf. Wenn Sie anderer Meinung sind, bitte gesetzte an warme Kleidung, heben Sie Ihre Schaufel und Kopf zur Bahnstation für die Reise zur Umschulunganlage auf.

    Oh, sorry. I thought you wanted it in the language of the way she intended it.

  27. #27
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:26 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    For #26…

    I had to use a translator. Here’s what I entered.

    Attention:

    From now on, there will be no penalties! All fees imposed by the government will now be called incentives. If you disagree, please put on warm clothes, pick up your shovel and head to the train station for the trip to the re-education facility.

    It just sounds more liberal in German.

  28. #28
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:32 pm, Flyoverman said:

    “You’re not punished if you have health insurance, in fact. And so you are, in fact, incentivized to have health insurance, rather than take the negative which is to suggest that because we have a penalty you are being punished,” Rep. Jackson-Lee said.

    Could someone translate what Jackson-Lee is saying into English

    “It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.”

  29. #29
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:34 pm, swmntman said:

    SJL said:… And so you are, in fact, incentivized to have health insurance, rather than take the negative…

    Suuwwinngggg and a miss — grab a seat on the bench, Ms. Lee.

  30. #30
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:36 pm, battleaxe said:

    I guess I no longer have to wonder where she stands on the issue of the dangers of Guam capsizing.

  31. #31
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:51 pm, thejim said:

    You really would think that the voters in her district would be embarrassed at some point and try to find someone else to represent them, unless of course you looked at Murtha’s district. They never figured it out either.

  32. #32
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:52 pm, prendad said:

    Sheila Jackson Lee (SJL):
    Stupid
    Jive-a$$
    Lib

    Watching this babbling humanoid in action, consuming our natural resources and spewing BS as a product, really can be depressing. Latest Jackson Lee contributions to society:
    1. SJL takes House floor to condemn Pepsi commercial as racist and demeaning because it shows a black woman throwing a pepsi can at a black man.
    2. SJL talks about “two Vietnams” on House floor, apparently ignorant of the fact that the war ended a few decades ago.
    3. SJL says repealing Obamacare would be unconstitutional.
    4. SJL asks where she can find copies of the photo of Neil Armstrong planting the American Flag on Mars.
    5. And, who can forget those immortal thoughts of SJL comparing the Tea Party to the KKK in a speech to the NAACP.

    Yep. She brings levity to Congress, even if she doesn’t realize it. I would say embarassment but I don’t think that anyone in Congress really cares about being embarassed.

  33. #33
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:52 pm, babiesgrandma said:

    Hard to believe she’s a graduate of Yale. Oh, wait…. I think Yale was incentivized to take her.

    As was Univ of VA law school.

  34. #34
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:52 pm, rocketman said:

    ***
    Sheila Jackson Lee is a disgrace to my state of Texas. I didn’t realize that we have so many Kalifornia type fools in our state that she could possibly win an election.
    ***
    Someone check the graveyard headstones and see if the dead are voting for her. I don’t see how anybody with a working brain could do so.
    ***
    I wonder if she thinks that the hated Deep South poll tax was an “incentive” to help Black People vote!
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  35. #35
    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:54 pm, J S Ragman said:

    Well, you can’t argue with that logic. I mean, really, you can’t argue with the galactically stupid.

  36. #36
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:02 pm, Hangfire said:

    SJL: “Tell me about the bunny rabbits, George. I want to hug them and squeeze them ……”

  37. #37
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:04 pm, Hangfire said:

    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:52 pm, rocketman said:
    Sheila Jackson Lee is a disgrace to my state of Texas

    I wouldn’t let her be a freeway flagman in Oklahoma.

  38. #38
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:08 pm, Ron said:

    I cringe every time she opens her big, fat mouth. I’m glad I’m not from Houston.

  39. #39
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:21 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    Un-freakin’-believable! The fact that this idiot changes the vernacular to cover her endless B.S. ought to tell her constituents that she has no place in any job. This box of rocks couldn’t get a real job and pay real taxes.

  40. #40
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:23 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:54 pm, J S Ragman said:
    Well, you can’t argue with that logic. I mean, really, you can’t argue with the galactically stupid.

    Now, that’s funny – R-Man!!! but, sadly true)

  41. #41
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:23 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    Another day and the sun rises in the east, and Sheila Jackson-Lee says something phenomenally stupid……

  42. #42
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:25 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    (beep) Houston, we have a problem (beep)

  43. #43
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:44 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:32 pm, Flyoverman said:
    “It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.”

    I bet she’d like everybody to have Buffalo Bob’s health plan!

  44. #44
    On February 17th, 2011 at 4:54 pm, granite said:

    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:26 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    Vielen Dank fuer die Uebersetzung.

  45. #45
    On February 17th, 2011 at 5:09 pm, Hangfire said:

    ——————————————————————————–

    Clarice Starling: Your name is?
    Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb: Oh, uh Jack Gordon.
    Clarice Starling: Mr. Gordon, good, uh… well, Sheila Jackson Lee used to work for Mrs. Lippman. Did you know her?
    Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb: No, nuh-uh. Oh wait… was she a great big fat person?
    Clarice Starling: Yeah she was a big girl, sir.
    Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb: Yeah, I may’ve… no I read about her in the newspaper.

  46. #46
    On February 17th, 2011 at 6:01 pm, right_on said:

    toomuchtime:

    Nizza. Sie fing die Essenz ihrer idiotischen Geschwätz sehr gut. Kudos, mein Freund!

  47. #47
    On February 17th, 2011 at 6:01 pm, spaceycakes said:

    We covet that which we see every day…

  48. #48
    On February 17th, 2011 at 6:05 pm, right_on said:

    Everytime I see Sheila J-Lee, I think of the term,

    “Hi-dee-ho, neighbors!”

    Oh wait…that’s Mr. Hanky’s line.

    Still…She does remind me of Mr. Hanky. Nothing but “poop” for brains.

  49. #49
    On February 17th, 2011 at 7:58 pm, rambler said:

    Being an elected official seems to be the only job which doesn’t require the job holder to know anything about history, the government, the Constitution or have an ounce of common sense. Ms. Jackson is living proof that some in DC have negative IQs.

  50. #50
    On February 17th, 2011 at 8:12 pm, Papa Louie said:

    I think it’s high time to give Sheila Jackson Lee a million dollar incentive to stop being so stupid!

  51. #51
    On February 17th, 2011 at 8:17 pm, Papa Louie said:

    So, according to Ms. Lee, Timothy the-tax-cheat Geithner was punished by the IRS because they did not give him “an incentive” to pay his taxes. Do I have that right???

  52. #52
    On February 17th, 2011 at 9:48 pm, TomB said:

    It isn’t spin, it’s communication.

    It isn’t a boondoggle, it’s stimulus.

    It wasn’t a promise, it was a goal.

    It isn’t newspeak, it’s Novocaine for the brain.

  53. #53
    On February 17th, 2011 at 10:44 pm, Blackstone said:

    On February 17th, 2011 at 3:26 pm, TooMuchTime said:
    For #26…

    I had to use a translator.

    And that’s where things get comical. It translated “head” as a noun instead of as a verb, and so “pick up your shovel and head” came across like you were saying, pick up your shovel and your head.

    That’s why it can sometimes be a real adventure to read the translated instructions on certain “made in Japan” gizmos.

  54. #54
    On February 18th, 2011 at 9:47 am, TigerLady said:

    Rush would say “she’s a glittering jewel of colossal ignorance”.

  55. #55
    On February 21st, 2011 at 9:56 pm, buzdburd said:

    I am so thankful for Jackson-Lee. She proves over and over again that liberalism is a disease that severely inhibits one’s ability to understand the simplest of concepts. To her, it’s all about tax & spend. The more they tax er, incetivive us, the more they can spend uh, do the right thing!

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