Unions: No tax on 'Cadillac' health plans

the hill ^ | 10/02/09 06:11 AM ET | Kevin Bogardus

[RC one]

Organized labor is turning to House Democrats to oppose a tax on high-cost insurance plans that is under consideration to help pay for healthcare reform.

Unions are blasting the idea in the Senate Finance Committee bill, as many union members would be affected because they either have expensive insurance to cover dangerous professions or negotiated for better benefits instead of higher wages.

So far, at least one union has now turned to the lower chamber to stop the proposed tax from becoming law. An e-mail accidentally sent to The Hill on Wednesday by a senior lobbyist of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), an AFL-CIO member, encouraged congressional aides to have their lawmakers to sign on to a “Dear Colleague” letter from Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), saying the proposal would be an unfair tax on its members

[RC one]

HCR is not going to be a political success for Nobama.

[stylin19a]

freaking unions finally realized they have Cadillac plans

[RC one]

I’m pretty sure his reform plan depends on taxing existing insurance benefits as income. Nobody likes this idea. If he does it, he’s screwed.If he doesn’t do it, he can’t pay for the plan and, again, he’s screwed. He’s in a lose/lose situation with this. Republicans can exploit this.

[socialismisinsidious]

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[RC one]

I agree. lol

[Rome2000]

I’m pretty sure his reform plan depends on taxing existing insurance benefits as income.

McCain wanted to do the same thing and Obama used it against him in his campaign commercials.

[RC one]

yeah, I didn’t like it when McCain suggested it and I didn’t like it when Obama suggested it (after deriding it). I think it’s pretty clear now in the aftermath of the Mass. special election, that nobody really cares for that idea.