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Labor unions oppose Senate's health bill
Washington Times ^ | 12/18/2009 | Jennifer Haberkorn

Posted on 12/18/2009 2:21:49 AM PST by markomalley

Two politically powerful labor unions came out Thursday against the Senate's health care overhaul bill as Democratic leaders struggled to find a compromise on the measure's abortion language and lock down enough support among their party to move toward a final vote by Christmas Eve.

Moderate Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who wants to ensure that federal money is not used to pay for abortions, said Thursday that he hasn't found a compromise that would win his vote without threatening the support for the bill from liberal, pro-choice members.

Republicans, for their part, threatened to use every procedural trick in their arsenal to stop what they call a historic mistake.

"The American people are clearly asking us to do everything we can to stop this bill," said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Democratic leaders plan to introduce a final package of amendments in the coming days and quickly start the clock on a series of procedural votes that have to happen before they can vote on the health reform legislation - something they hope to do before Christmas.

With Republicans uniformly opposed to the bill, Democrats need the support of all 60 members of their caucus.

A handful still haven't committed, including Mr. Nelson and Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent. Sens. Jim Webb of Virginia and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas are waiting to hear how the Congressional Budget Office analyzes the legislation before they commit.

(snip)

SEIU and AFL-CIO, the nation's largest group of labor unions, said Thursday that they hope to work to repair the Senate bill but that they don't support it in its current state.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: obamacare

1 posted on 12/18/2009 2:21:50 AM PST by markomalley
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To: markomalley

Supposedly the CBO has finished. Why hasn’t it been released? Or at least leaked?


2 posted on 12/18/2009 3:09:33 AM PST by chilltherats (First, kill all the lawyers (now that they ARE the tyrants).......)
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To: markomalley

**Two politically powerful labor unions came out Thursday against the Senate’s health care overhaul bill**

Maybe

1. they’ll have to pay “Cadillac Tax” for excessive coverage.

2. Company can Dump Union Members into the “Public”

3. It’s just NOT LIBERAL ENOUGH??


3 posted on 12/18/2009 3:17:24 AM PST by gwilhelm56 (Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8 "Let his days be few; and let another take his office. ")
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To: gwilhelm56

There are a few obstacles left for Obama to clear.


4 posted on 12/18/2009 3:20:42 AM PST by scooby321
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To: markomalley

I find it ironic that unions, who usually have fought long and hard over many decades and sacrific ed much to gain decent employer funded health care for their workers would now blow off all those sacrifices and hard bargaining in order that non-union members could get better benefits.

Kind like funny, isn’t it?


5 posted on 12/18/2009 3:59:19 AM PST by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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To: chilltherats
Supposedly the CBO has finished. Why hasn’t it been released?

Must not be good news for Hairy Greed.

6 posted on 12/18/2009 4:02:00 AM PST by Fresh Wind ("...a whip of political correctness strangles their voice"-Vaclav Klaus on GW skeptics)
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To: chilltherats

Because even the real bill has not been released


7 posted on 12/18/2009 4:03:30 AM PST by EBH (it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government)
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To: camle
“blow off all those sacrifices and hard bargaining in order that non-union members could get better benefits.”

Where exactly do you get the idea that anyone will get “better benefits” under any form of bill that has been proposed so far?
There has been absolutely no increase in benefits under any plan offered. The only increase is in adding 117 new government entities to decide what benefits you get.

Any way you try to spin it, you will have less benefits, pay more for it, and pay higher taxes.

It's all about government control, nothing more.

8 posted on 12/18/2009 4:11:57 AM PST by bitterohiogunclinger (America held hostage - day 163)
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To: EBH

Right. That’s why it hasn’t been released. But why not leaked? Do you know if the CBO really is actually in? It was due in Thursday, I thought.

I want to hear the numbers.


9 posted on 12/18/2009 4:16:11 AM PST by chilltherats (First, kill all the lawyers (now that they ARE the tyrants).......)
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To: Fresh Wind

Yeah. They locked the pubs completely out, formed a core ad hoc team to pound it out and keep it secret, turned it over to the CBO, and now use their secretiveness about the bill as an excuse to be secretive about the CBO report.

I think we need some constitutional amendments to reign congress in.


10 posted on 12/18/2009 4:18:52 AM PST by chilltherats (First, kill all the lawyers (now that they ARE the tyrants).......)
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To: markomalley

You get what you pay for.


11 posted on 12/18/2009 4:27:59 AM PST by jersey117
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To: markomalley
ha-ha another interest group po'd

Pretty soon the only thing left in this Bill will be the Bill Number.

12 posted on 12/18/2009 4:36:40 AM PST by Condor51 (The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits)
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To: markomalley

HEY UNIONS....YOU WANTED CHANGE YOU GOT IT.....


13 posted on 12/18/2009 4:49:36 AM PST by GUNGAGALUNGA (Democratus Suckus Teatus is the Latin root for Democrat and it means to tax)
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To: camle

The unions big problem is the pool of 50-65 years who retire after 20-25 years of working and receive cadillac health care benefits until the reach Medicare age. This is GM’s greatest problem. A public option would enable the unions to slough off those retired workers too young for Medicare.


14 posted on 12/18/2009 6:25:04 AM PST by randita (Chains you can bereave in.)
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To: bitterohiogunclinger

oh I agree about the government control. I just find it incongruent that unions, who have worked so hard for benefits for their workers, would then throw all that work away with government provided health.


15 posted on 12/18/2009 6:36:26 AM PST by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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To: randita

you are, of course correct, but the cost is this cadillac health care is management’s concern, less so the union. I am a union member, and outraged that all our hard won benefits are to be diluted.

the real downside to unionism is that the big labor bosses no longer work for their consittuency, but for the left wing. the workers are, to the unions, a source of funding, little more.


16 posted on 12/18/2009 6:38:40 AM PST by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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To: camle
“I just find it incongruent that unions, who have worked so hard for benefits for their workers,..snip”

When the details are known, they'll be exempt, and SEIU will be benefiting by organizing all government run heatlhcare workers.

It's kind of like trying to figure out why UNIONS support amnesty for illegals.

17 posted on 12/18/2009 6:53:43 AM PST by bitterohiogunclinger (America held hostage - day 163)
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To: bitterohiogunclinger

it’s kinda like spending your capital for the benifits of those who do not pay you. I don’t get it.


18 posted on 12/18/2009 7:13:55 AM PST by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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To: camle
you are, of course correct, but the cost is this cadillac health care is management’s concern, less so the union.

It's of concern to the union when management says "either we're cutting benefits bigtime or we're cutting workers bigtime. If you don't, then we have no recourse but to file for Chapter 11. Do you want reduced benefits or no job - what's your choice?"

19 posted on 12/18/2009 8:03:33 AM PST by randita (Chains you can bereave in.)
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To: randita

yes, but a lot of businesses are doing it more and more simply to break teh union.

but before you blow a gasket (I would), remember that things that we take for granted, such as the five day workweek, eight hour day, beneifts, etc., were all brought to us by unions.

we all owe unions a debt of gratitude, if only the unions themselves didn’t pervert all their gains...


20 posted on 12/18/2009 8:37:19 AM PST by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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