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House approves resolution urging federal change to permit medical savings accounts without fixed dollar mandate
Summary
House Concurrent Resolution 22, urging Congress to allow medical savings accounts that preserve unused balances, was amended to remove a fixed $3,000 figure and passed the House 58-11 after members tightened the language to avoid implying a federal mandate.
Representative Evan L. Olson introduced House Concurrent Resolution 22 urging Congress to permit medical care savings accounts (a medical IRA) so unused balances could roll over tax-free. Members asked whether the resolution assumed an employer-mandated $3,000 contribution; Representative Davis raised the point and Representative Stevens offered an amendment to delete the $3,000 figure and replace it with nonspecific "an amount."
The Stevens amendment was presented as intended to avoid endorsing a specific dollar mandate that might be misconstrued as federal policy. Olson said the resolution's intent was permissive rather than mandatory and supported the amendment. The House voted to adopt the Stevens amendment and then passed the amended resolution 58-11. The resolution will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
