In the wake of widespread public backlash against the Democrats’ health care overhaul, Politico’s James Hohmann reports that Washington Democrats react to their abysmal poll numbers… by hiding. 

Before Congress left town for the spring recess, Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged rank-and-file Democrats to return home and tout the benefits of the landmark health care bill.  But instead of barnstorming their districts celebrating their historic accomplishment, some have been content to remain beneath the radar, reluctant to advertise their role in passing the centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s domestic policy agenda. 

Meanwhile, Obama’s IRS chief Doug Shulman confirmed the fears of many Americans – and contradicted the claims of Washington Democrats like Russ Feingold – when he admitted that individuals who do not purchase health insurance could be fined through the withholding or confiscation of tax refunds.  The Daily Caller’s Gautham Nagesh reports:

Individuals who don’t purchase health insurance may lose their tax refunds according to IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. After acknowledging the recently passed health-care bill limits the agency’s options for enforcing the individual mandate, Shulman told reporters that the most likely way to penalize individuals that don’t comply is by reducing or confiscating their tax refunds… Many reports have claimed that enforcement of the individual mandate will be non-existent, but Shulman’s answers indicate differently. According to BusinessWeek, starting in 2015 Americans who don’t purchase insurance will be subject to a fine of $325 and that sum increases to $695 in 2016.