How the Inflation Reduction Act Saves You Money
US Senate Democrats recently agreed to a package of reforms to address climate change and reduce the cost of health care for working people and seniors. Called the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), these changes will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% from 2005 levels, save money for both homeowners and renters, keep people on their health insurance, and reduce both prescription drug costs and the deficit. If it passes Congress and is enacted into law, the IRA will provide significant benefits for people who are improving their homes, buying new and used cars, and using health insurance.
Your Home. Feeling the heat this summer? The act significantly expands incentives to insulate, cool, and heat your house more efficiently. Incentives include up to $8,000 for a heat pump for heating or cooling rooms, up to $1,750 for a heat pump for water, and up to $840 for electric cooking equipment or a heat pump clothes dryer. There’s also funding to upgrade electric load service, insulation and air sealing, and electric wiring. Rooftop solar incentives would be extended for another 10 years. The IRA also includes provisions subsidizing the up-front costs of energy efficient construction and special provisions to help make low income and affordable housing more energy efficient. One analysis estimated that these incentives could offer average savings of $1,800 for a typical household over time.
Your Car. We would all love to stop paying the high price of gasoline for cars. The IRA extends and expands new electric vehicle purchase incentives and creates a new program for used EV purchases. The law extends the federal EV purchase incentive of $7,500, to new EVs, for households earning under $150,000 for an individual and $300,000 for a married couple. The used EV incentive is $4,000, but is limited to once per vehicle and only for taxpayers making under $75,000 for an individual or $150,000 for a family. Oregon has state EV incentives of up to $5,000 as well, making the cost of an EV affordable for many more families.
Your Healthcare. The IRA takes two big steps to reduce healthcare expenses for working families and seniors. The IRA reduces the premiums for health insurance bought on the exchanges until the end of 2025, an extension of the pandemic-driven benefit of three years. Also, the IRA allows Medicare to negotiate the price of certain prescription drugs, reducing the cost to consumers and saving the federal government money.
Other Provisions. The IRA pays for these benefits by fixing a number of inefficiencies and loopholes. In addition to allowing negotiation of Medicare prescription drug prices, the IRA reduces cheating on taxes – disproportionately committed by the wealthy – by increasing IRS funding so it can provide better oversight. Finally, the IRA prevents business free-riding by establishing a 15% corporate minimum tax. Taxes on individuals and households are not increased. Overall, the bill reduces the deficit by $300 million.
In addition to the benefits for individuals and households, the bill contains a number of other provisions to fight climate change on a more structural level. These will get us 80% of the way to our Paris Climate Accord goals. Although the IRA has a long way to go before it becomes law, it appears to me that passage would be a win for household budgets, the federal budget, and the planet.
Other News
Burn Pits and Healthcare for Veterans
The US Congress finally passed the PACT Act to provide better care for veterans, like me, who suffered injuries from breathing toxic smoke while fighting overseas. While we all want healthcare to be evidence-based, the VA has a habit of waiting until the evidence is overwhelming before extending healthcare benefits. When it comes burn pits, as with Agent Orange, that determination was coming too late for our veterans suffering from cancer related to these exposures. The PACT Act ensures that these veterans, in addition to those with respiratory issues already covered, will be able to receive care. It also extends healthcare for all veterans serving in a combat zone for 10 years following their deployment.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/senate-vote-burn-pits/index.html
(Fortunately, I do not have cancer, but I do have some respiratory issues from being exposed to toxic garbage burning experienced in my deployments to Bosnia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.)
Gambling in Oregon
Oregon’s lottery has been in the news lately, as research indicates that the state income from the lottery comes disproportionately from those least able to afford it. The Legislature itself has something of an addiction to the revenues the Lottery raises. I support a moratorium on new lottery bond projects until we take a look at the Lottery’s impact on Oregonians. While I have no objection to gambling in general, we owe it to Oregonians not to engage in predatory gambling practices.
https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2022/07/readers-respond-oregons-gambling-problem.html
COVID-19
Vaccinations (including boosters) are available at:
COVID-19 Testing
At-home Test Kits
Each residential households in the U.S. is eligible to order free at-home antigen tests from the federal government. (Each household may place three orders, for a total of 16 free at-home tests per household). Place your online order here.
The Hult Center
RT-PCR test for COVID-19
Results typically within 2 hours
For patients 5+
Patients ages 5 -17 must be swabbed by an accompanying adult
UO's Monitoring and Assessment Program (MAP)
Individuals without symptoms can test inside McArthur Court. Appointments are strongly encouraged for asymptomatic testing. Book online here
Testing for individuals with mild symptoms, similar to the common cold, is available at the McArthur Court ticket booths. Individuals with symptoms should not go inside to test.
Symptomatic testing is offered as walk in only and available during limited hours.
Due to increased demand in testing, plan an hour for the check-in and testing process.
MAP test results are available within 2-4 business days. This is not a rapid test
This is available to all community members, not just UO staff and students.
For individuals who are experiencing symptoms and/or had a recent close encounter with a known positive case may access testing through Lane County Public Health or through your primary care provider. Testing locations are updated weekly online and include drive-thru testing options.