Top aides to union leaders, who asked not to be named, confirmed the report and the council’s frustration at its meeting in Washington Dec. 16. But they said that at the end the union leaders reached no decision. The AFL-CIO communications staff confirmed the meeting but said no statement was issued.
The federation is frustrated with the health care revision bill for several reasons:
• Senators – with at least silent consent from the Obama administration – dumped key provisions. Gone are cost-control measures such as enactment of a “public option” to compete with private insurers and their high premiums, co-pays and denial of care, and, later, letting people aged 55-64 buy in to Medicare.
• The Senate bill keeps a plan, hatched by the more-conservative Finance Committee, to tax everyone’s health insurance, above a floor of $8,500 for an individual and $23,000 for a family. That would hurt middle-class families and workers. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has said taxing workers’ health care could be a deal-breaker.
• Sen. Bernard Sanders, Ind.-Vt., had to withdraw his plan to let states set up government-run single-payer health care programs, eliminating the insurance companies. Republicans, who oppose all health care reform, brought the Senate to a halt by forcing Sanders’ 700-plus-page amendment to be read aloud. At least 19 AFL-CIO unions, 500+ other labor bodies and the independent United Electrical Workers support single-payer. After 100 pages and three hours, an angry Sanders gave up.
Progressive bloggers, former Gov. Howard Dean, D-Vt., an M.D., and the California Nurses Association all want the Senate bill dumped.
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Top aides to union leaders, who asked not to be named, confirmed the report and the council’s frustration at its meeting in Washington Dec. 16. But they said that at the end the union leaders reached no decision. The AFL-CIO communications staff confirmed the meeting but said no statement was issued.
The federation is frustrated with the health care revision bill for several reasons:
• Senators – with at least silent consent from the Obama administration – dumped key provisions. Gone are cost-control measures such as enactment of a “public option” to compete with private insurers and their high premiums, co-pays and denial of care, and, later, letting people aged 55-64 buy in to Medicare.
• The Senate bill keeps a plan, hatched by the more-conservative Finance Committee, to tax everyone’s health insurance, above a floor of $8,500 for an individual and $23,000 for a family. That would hurt middle-class families and workers. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has said taxing workers’ health care could be a deal-breaker.
• Sen. Bernard Sanders, Ind.-Vt., had to withdraw his plan to let states set up government-run single-payer health care programs, eliminating the insurance companies. Republicans, who oppose all health care reform, brought the Senate to a halt by forcing Sanders’ 700-plus-page amendment to be read aloud. At least 19 AFL-CIO unions, 500+ other labor bodies and the independent United Electrical Workers support single-payer. After 100 pages and three hours, an angry Sanders gave up.
“There was a lot of dissatisfaction around the (Council) table with the trend in the Senate and with some of the developments that occurred there,” one aide told PAI. Many of the leaders now view the developing Senate health bill as “a bailout of the insurance industry,” as it forces everyone in the U.S. to buy health insurance, he added.
“But people realize we’re in a difficult situation, so they’ll push for what they can, but they’re not very optimistic,” another aide pointed out. Other backers of reform are also frustrated. Their reactions depend on whether they’re inside or outside the Senate.
Progressive bloggers, former Gov. Howard Dean, D-Vt., an M.D., and the California Nurses Association all want the Senate bill dumped.
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.