Posted on 07/08/2009 6:32:30 AM PDT by NewJerseyJoe
CQ Politics picks up on the unions’ vehement opposition to taxing health benefits, a proposal that has been floated by members of Congress working on healthcare.
It was the unions after all who attacked Sen. John McCain in the 2008 presidential campaign, drumming up support based on claims that he wanted to tax their health benefits. Now unions are worried that this may come to fruition with the President they elected and are starting to experience some buyer’s remorse:
Michael Wilson, international vice president of the 1.3-million-member United Food and Commercial Workers, said union leaders told workers that 2008 GOP presidential candidate John McCain , R-Ariz., would tax their health benefits and that Democrat Barack Obama would not. Those workers would feel stung if the plan Obama ends up signing includes such a tax.
“That’s a message that resonated with our members, no matter what their ideology was,” Wilson said.
No union has formally moved off that position, but some have been louder than others in opposing taxation of any benefits. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Laborers International Union of North America have been particularly active in campaigning against consideration of a cap.
The idea to tax health benefits would hit unions hard since they generally have more generous insurance plans than the average private sector worker. So how do you make lemonade out of an extremely sour batch of lemons? Just exempt the unions from the tax!
[Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus] seems to have settled on capping the exclusion as a way to raise hundreds of billions of dollars over 10 years while encouraging employers and insurers to contain costs. Committee members have been discussing a cap set at 10 percent above the cost of federal employees’ health benefits. An exception for benefits provided under existing union contracts is being considered as a way to limit the impact of imposing a cap.
In another example of how twisted Washington can be, not only will unions get the healthcare plan they want, but they won’t have to pay their share like everyone else.
I guess we will all have to join unions, then.
The Union of pissed off Americans. UOPOA
As I have pointed out before, if union workers are exempt from this tax, we will see the biggest Equal Protection Clause lawsuit ever on the face of the Earth. There was an article posted yesterday saying that the Senate is backing off on taxing benefits. This comes as no surprise. Elected officials are answerable to all of their constituents, not just those who belong to a union, and they are beginning to realize there would be hell to pay on so many levels if they pass such legislation, regardless of which particular special interest BO and the Democrats want to reward.
Surely this couldn’t stand a legal challenge in court, could it? (Assuming the court still abides by the law and Constitution.)
Union invested millions to bring the Marxists to power. They should be upset about having their healthcare taxed. Commies always believe that everyone else should be taxed but the government should leave them alone.
Funny how these POS politicians we have insist that this or that bill is for everyone’s best interest, then promptly exclude themselves and their allies from said bill.
You need to go back 9 Amendments in order to check the Federal government. In fact, if a judge or Supreme Court ignores this check it will signal the time for a v#4@*&% revolution since authorities no longer recognize restraints (Due process, in the case for favoritism of union members not being taxed) provided by the Constitution that is projected onto the Federal government.
this is the kind of thing that can and will come back to bite them next election cycle if the pubbies would only use it. this is a layup. these people are better than you. you know how we know? ask the dems!.
You are so right. The Due Process Clause would apply here.
I’ve said the same. The citizens need to have access to their live tele-meeting discussions and access to phone logs and visitor logs.
Keep them at home so we can keep an eye on them.
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