Tax-And-Bribe Democrats
From the WSJ:
Democrats seem impervious to embarrassment as they buy votes for ObamaCare, but their latest move makes even Nebraska's Ben Nelson look cheap: The 87% of Americans who don't belong to a union will now foot the bill for a $60 billion giveaway to those who do.The Senate bill was financed in part by a 40% excise tax on high-cost insurance coverage. The White House backs this "Cadillac tax" as one of the few remaining cost-control tokens. But Big Labor abhors the tax because union benefits tend to be far more generous than average, and labor leaders and House Democrats have been throwing a political tantrum for weeks.
So emerging from their backrooms, Democrats have agreed to extend a special exemption from the Cadillac tax to any health plan that is part of a collective-bargaining agreement, plus state and local workers, many of whom are unionized. Everyone else with a higher-end plan will start to be taxed in 2013, but union members will get a free pass until 2018.
Ponder that one for a moment. Two workers who are identical in every respect--wages, job, health plan--will be treated differently by the tax system, based solely on union membership.
What few people didnt hate unions before are going to now.
I refuse to buy any car made by an american company quite frankly and this doesnt inspire me to change my mind
lujlp at January 18, 2010 2:47 AM
I read in the Statesman this weekend an article about the unions okaying some healthcare something or other. Since when do unions, who we don't vote for, in charge of okaying legislation? I have a cadillac health plan. This tax is going to kill us. Probably literally.
momof4 at January 18, 2010 5:07 AM
Opps, since when ARE..
momof4 at January 18, 2010 6:31 AM
I can't see how this can pass Constitutional muster. It's a clear violation of equal protection.
brian at January 18, 2010 6:37 AM
Unions once served a purpose. Like any organization tends to do, they have outlived their usefulness. The larger unions now exist in a horrible sort of symbiosis with the democratic party: they funnel dues to political campaigns, and get legislative kickbacks in return. The union leadership gets fat by skimming the cream off of all the loot flowing back and forth.
The healthcare bill is becoming an incredible edifice of makeshift patches and exceptions. One hopes that it will collapse under its own weight.
bradley13 at January 18, 2010 7:01 AM
You beat me to it, bradley13. The days when unions did any good are over.
If this ridiculous healthcare bill passes, we're all doomed.
Ann at January 18, 2010 7:53 AM
Sean - not sure if southie was the right term,just remember it from a few movies (Good Will Hunting?) - ahh well, that's whatcha get for being a west coaster. Anyways - I love MA accents.
Go Brown!
Feebie at January 18, 2010 9:51 AM
DUDE! I am on the WRONG Thread. How did that happen!?
Feebie at January 18, 2010 9:51 AM
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