Posted on 01/15/2010 7:18:59 AM PST by opentalk
Big Labor got some big love from President Obama and congressional Democrats yesterday after they agreed to exempt union workers from the whopping “Cadillac tax” on high-cost health-care plans until 2018.
The sweetheart deal, hammered out behind closed doors, will save union employees at least $60 billion over the years involved, while others won't be as lucky -- they'll have to cough up almost $90 billion.
The 40 percent excise tax on what have come to be called "Cadillac" health-care plans would exempt collective-bargaining contracts covering government employees and other union members until Jan. 1, 2018.
In another major concession to labor, the value of dental and vision plans would be exempt from the tax even after the deal expires in eight years, negotiators said.
Under the plan to help fund health-care reform, the tax would kick in for plans valued at $8,900 or more for individuals and $24,000 or more for families.
That's slightly higher than the $8,500 and $23,000 thresholds in the bill passed by the Senate last month.
The threshold will be even higher for certain plans with many older workers and women -- a move to benefit unions with a high proportion of female membership, sources said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
If you’re not a hardcore liberal, then sorry, no deals for you.
Me
This bondoggle has to violate at least twenty provisions of the US Constitution.
This boondoggle has to violate at least twenty provisions of the US Constitution.
Registered Republican or Conservative: You pay.
Registered DemocRat or Liberal: You get.
They might as well codify it.
The US Constitution? What’s that?
Bill of Attainder lawsuits to follow en masse.
So, so bad. It gives me hope that it will fail utterly when it is tested in the courts. Does anyone know whether the taxes can be imposed while a court challenge is under way? If it is passed and survives a challenge, is it true that it would take a GOP supermajority to overturn it.
Yeah.. me, a few people I know. Some relatives. But we are all busy working and paying taxes.
Unfreakin’ believable! Is there anyone that DIDN’T get a deal in this besides me?
Separate but equal.
Some animals are more equal than others. /Orwell
Ok, thats it. We have a protected ruling class. We have a protected minority class. We now have a protected union class.
We have a government that is operating illegally everyday outside of its constitutional limits.
When is the time for the revolution? Hell, Van Jones and many in this current administration have called for a revolution on us. Are we at the point yet to say bring it on?
But in your and your administration's eyes... some are more "equal" than others.
Brutal.
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