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Average tax penalty comes in at $172. >> yes. bill: is that considered higher than what we thought? >> it was thought to be $92 because that was thought to be the standard penalty. in fact, it was $92 or 2% of adjusted gross income whichever is higher. turns out percentage of income was higher. so the average tax penalty was $172 not 92. bill: you're predicting it will be higher than next year? >> yes it will be, the fine goes up, way up, i think $360. bill: we still don't know what the supreme court will do on subsidies. >> no we do not. bill: that could change all of this again. >> how many ...

It is getting on a shorter leash here. what's being done right now, stuart, to head off this potential crisis? >> there is intense criticism of the obama administration because over the last three years they have not come up with a plan to deal with this. and treasury secretary tim geithner was out yesterday criticizing paul ryan who has come up with a plan to deal with entitlements. and secretary geithner was harshly critical of him. he went right after mr. ryan. bill: did he offer a plan? >> no, the administration does not have a plan to deal structurally with the problems of medicare and so...

Are fading all over again. martha: so obviously the white house looks at that bigger trend and says look, we're heading in the right direction. slower than anybody wanted it be but maybe we are in sort of a different situation this time around? >> well look the trend line, as far as you know employment benefits is concerned is not going in the right direction for the white house. the trend line has reversed. it is now going up. that is not what the white house wants to see. these are very political numbers and they spell bad political news for president obama. martha: stuart, thank you. we'll ...

Ronald reagan cut out some loopholes. and that's what mitt romney proposes to do. the end result of ronald reagan's policy was to i think double the amount of money coming into the united states treasury in a five-year period. that's what mitt romney think he can do with his proposal. if it is more than a proposal. if it is really is a proposal as opposed to a trial balloon. gregg: that is what i was going to ask. is he floating this out there to see what kind of reaction he is getting? >> yes. his aides have said this is not at specific proposal. this is something he may do. it's an idea that...

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