Today's New York Post is reporting that Democrats and the President have agreed that the tax on "Cadillac" health plans will not apply to unions until January 1, 2018. This will save union employees approximately $60 billion, while other employees with "Cadillac" plans will have to pay a forty percent tax on their health insurance plans (approximately $ 90 billion). The value of dental and vision insurance plans would continue to be exempt for union employees even after 2018.
The tax on "Cadillac" plans was put into the healthcare bill instead of a tax on the wealthy. The threshold for the tax is slightly higher than was originally planned.
The bargaining table included some powerful unions. The article reports:
"Participants included AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Andy Stern, head of Service Employees International Union; Anna Burger, head of Change to Win; and the leaders of unions representing teachers, government workers, food and commercial workers, and electricians."
This is not the way to run the government. Aside from the total lack of transparency in the healthcare negotiations, the number of special deals made with special interest groups and some states is appalling.
As I have said before--the only way to stop this runaway train is to elect Scott Brown in the special election to be held in Massachusetts on Tuesday. His vote is the only thing that can stop this horrible bill.
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