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Can someone explain how this individual mandate is a "tax"? Is the word "tax" even used in the bill?

I remember when Democrats were putting this together and trying to sell it.

They went OUT OF THEIR WAY to ASSURE people this was NOT a tax, but a penalty. And that it's all good, because Congress has the authority under the Commerce Clause to mandate that you buy insurance.

Well the Supreme Court said the Commerce Clause argument was bogus. Then they did something even more mind boggling: They appear to have RE-DEFINED the words in the bill to mean "tax" for the SOLE purpose of upholding the law.

How the hell is a penalty for not doing something a "tax"? And if this "tax" penalty only applies to certain people, doesn't that make it unconstitutional as soon as this is levied the first time?? (since it is not applied equally to everyone)
@me ne frego.........

Yes. But it appears to be a direct tax that is not going to be levied equally across the country. So isn't that unconstitutional (not yet since they can't strike down a tax before it's levied, but when they actually try to collect the money)??
@wake up.........

And??

That doesn't explain this convoluted (borderlining on total bullsh*t) legal reasoning he used.
@daisy...

So some people get tax credits and subsidized insurance, some get penalized for not having insurance, and the rest just foot the bill?

(and we'll just ignore the fact that all the illegal aliens using ERs will CONTINUE to use ERs without insurance.......problem not really solved at all