It was almost one of those “it depends on what the meaning of ‘is’ is” moments. President Barack Obama was on ABC News’ “This Week” talking about his proposed health care when George Stephanopoulus asked him if the so-called individual mandate requiring everyone to purchase insurance was a tax.

Now, via the Daily Caller, comes word that the Obama Justice Department, in defending the health care bill against lawsuits by various states attorneys general, is justifying the individual mandate under the government’s power to levy taxes.

The Justice Department filing describes the penalty as a tax, stating that the law “imposes a tax on the choice of a method to finance the future costs of one’s health care.”

This is unsurprising. Once again, we have to pass the bill to find out what’s in it. And, better yet, to find out how they will justify what’s in it.