Resistance from union households is causing headaches for lawmakers and labor leaders who agreed to support health care reform that included a 40 percent excise tax on employer-sponsored health insurance plans.
In addition to outrage over any plan to tax their benefits, many union members question the need for such revenue producing measures, given the compromises that have reduced the size and cost of the original legislation.
The IAM Executive Council voted unanimously to oppose the excise tax proposal when it first surfaced. “Our members were against it when it was part of John McCain’s presidential campaign and we remain steadfastly opposed to this egregiously unfair tax,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger.
Under the modified proposal, the federal government would impose a 40 percent tax on the value of employer-sponsored health coverage that exceeded certain thresholds. Proponents of the excise tax, including the president’s Council of Economic Advisors, argue insurers would voluntarily hold down premiums to avoid the tax, while employers would pay workers more because their health insurance would cost less.
Tue. February 16, 2010
During the Bush tax cuts, our members continued to be taxed at approximately the same rates while the real tax breaks went to the wealthy and corporations. They should be taxed not the workers. The insurers haven\\\'t held down increases to individuals so why would anyone think they would hold them down for groups? Are there really some people out there that think employers would pay workers more because they think health insurance (which is constantly rising) would cost less? What world are some of these people living in?Tue. February 16, 2010
First of all the senate and congress both need to be down sized and they should also have their wages and bennies cut by 15 %. They are getting raises while the rest of america is losing homes, jobs, and health care. We have gone from the land of the free and home of the brave to the land of the fees! and home of the Slaves!! They talk about bringing cost down but the middle class is almost wiped out and we all know who would be footing the bill!