WASHINGTON (AP) ? It’s not just millionaires who’d pay more under President Barack Obama’s latest plan to cut the deficit.
Air travelers, federal workers, military retirees, wealthier Medicare beneficiaries and people taking out new mortgages are among those who would pay more than $130 billion in government revenues raised through new or increased fees. These fees are advertised as “savings” in administration budget documents.
Airline passengers, for instance, would see their federal security fees double from $5 to $10 for a nonstop roundtrip flight and triple to $15 by 2017. Federal employees would contribute more to their pensions. Some military retirees would pay a $200 fee to have the government pay out-of-pocket Medicare costs.
The fees aren’t taxes. They’re charged to people who use government services and they typically defray government costs.