Rep. Courtney: I Have 190 Democrats Against the Tax On “Cadillac” Health Insurance Plans

[Bluebear]

On a conference call put together by the Economic Policy Institute, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) said that he has the signatures of 190 Democrats on a letter opposed to the excise tax on high-end “Cadillac” insurance plans, and that stopping this tax was the “#1 priority” of the House of Representatives as they move to reconcile the House and Senate health care bills.

Courtney actually collected the signatures against the excise tax back in September and October, but he said that in the only caucus of House Democrats before Christmas, the majority of comments from members objected to the tax. He said that the Senate is “leaning hard for their position,” and they have some support from the White House. But judging from Nancy Pelosi’s recent comments, “this is where there’s the most resistance to the Senate plan because she knows this is where the caucus is.”

Courtney believes that the feeling has intensified among House Democrats because of input from constituents at town hall meetings and polling, both public and private. He cited several public polls showing 2-1 opposition to the excise tax, and said that members have conducted their own polling showing the tax to be “politically toxic.” He added that “on policy and political grounds, the House approach is right approach.”...

“When McCain proposed this (in the campaign), the Obama campaign went for his throat. The paid media they put into this issue was huge. The issue had tremendous potency. I don’t see any indication that the change of heart in the White House has changed the American people’s hostility to the idea.”

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/01/06/rep-joe-courtney-i-have-190-democrats-against-the-tax-on-cadillac-health-insurance-plans/

[David Zephyr]

1. K&R.

Thanks for the article and the link.

[Better Believe It]

2. Good. Now how many are firm on strong public option?

K & R

[n2doc]

3. and get rid of the mandate or put back the public Option. n/t

[flyarm]

4. ahh so sorry Rep Courtney..you will now be thrown under the bus by the cheerleaders here..

along with Firedoglake, that has already been thrown under the bus for telling truth..........

But Rep Courtney..i just have no faith you will stick to your guns..since the leadership has already been blowing love hearts up our asses about any real health CARE reform...we get it..we get it real good now..or I should say some of us get it..others just keep twisting themselves in pretzel forms making excuses and defending the indefensible ..this is rape of our nation..and our health care..this package has nothing to do with Health care..we can no longer be fooled.

The tragic thing is ..This is way bigger than health care reform..this is completely turning your back on what this nation was founded on. This is an attack of your value system ..all for the support of one party/ man..so what you end up with is a cluster fuck of Americans who stand for nothing.

If you sit back and think about it ..it is really rather pathetic that a vast group of people have been so easily manipulated and coerced to give up their values and principles of democracy,..and we wonder why we are where we are..shittttttt...

and both parties are equally guilty of it.

[PHIMG]

5. This bill is politically toxic. It's radioactive. Start over. HR676 Now.

[paulsby]

6. i am strongly opposed to taxing cadillac plans

that's about as clear as i can state it.