Firefighters Rip Obama For Breaking Campaign Promise Over Cadillac Tax

[Bluebear]

The International Association of Fire Fighters--an influential union that belongs to the AFL-CIO--has released the strongest condemnation yet of President Obama's support for taxing high-end health insurance plans as a means of financing a major health care overhaul--accusing him of breaking a campaign promise, and threatening to hold him accountable.

"If candidates make a promise to us, we hold them accountable. We held President Bush accountable when he made decisions that had a negative impact on our members' jobs and lives. We will do the same with President Obama," reads a statement from IAFF President Harold Schaitberger. "In 2008, then-candidate Obama promised three things: he said he would not raise taxes on folks making less than $250,000 a year; he vowed not to tax health insurance benefits; and he promised that under his health reform plan, people would be able to keep their existing coverage."

Now, President Obama supports the misguided excise tax passed by the Senate. The Senate bill will either subject the health care coverage provided to thousands of America's fire fighters to a tax or those benefits will be slashed to avoid the tax....

The president's support for the excise tax is a huge disappointment and cannot be ignored. If President Obama continues to support it and signs a bill that includes the excise tax on workers, we will hold him accountable.



http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/firefighters-rip-obama-for-breaking-campaign-promise-over-cadillac-tax.php

[highplainsdem]

1. K&R

[Bluebear]

12. The firefighters must be "Kool Kids" who just hate Obama.

[QC]

32. They just hate him because he's dreamy. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

34. Do they hate him,

or are you simply projecting your feelings onto them?

[FrenchieCat]

33. Unlike the Kool Kids, these folks are just simply misinformed,

and swallowing propaganda, most likely that the Kool Kids,
and their GOP friends are feeding them.

The excise tax wouldn't be on taxpayers, period....
but rather on Insurance companies.

Some can "Theorize" that the tax would be on them because it would be "passed on",
but that is a theory, and nothing more....a Kool Kids theory, at that.

[ChiciB1]

40. You CAN'T Be Serious!!! Not Passed On?? What World Are You Living In???

Ed Schultz was just discussing this and it was pretty clear that IT WOULD BE PASSED on to TAX-PAYERS!!

The sky is really falling when people are trying to defend Obama et al on this one!!
:rofl:

[ChiciB1]

41. From A Union Family Here!! Go Fly A Kite If You Think We Won't Hold

your feet to the fire!! This HCR is CRAP now and seems to get worse every day!!

[Bluebear]

43. The Obama-over-party/ nation/ unions/ families agenda is becoming clearer.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[flyarm]

68. The leader of the Firefighters union was on and he said it would be passed on to the taxpayers and

unions and it would cause employers to offer cheaper -worse policies..

Just ignore the "minders" ..someone is surely paying them ..to post talking bullshit points..

and they are pitiful doing so.

so sad that anyone would push bullshit trying to screw the American worker..these people must be 1. desperate and need money to post this bullshit..or 2. work for the insurance corps..or 3. not be democrats or lastly..4. sick!

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rateyes]

57. Benefits would be slashed in order for the companies to avoid the tax.

Thus, people would LOSE MONEY, because of the tax.


Therefore, the word one uses to describe the reality doesn't matter much. A skunk by any other name still stinks.

[truedelphi]

62. Uh, there are two different taxes. One is on the Big Insurers --

And the other is on the private employer on self employed or individual that has a "Cadillac" plan.

And of course, to offset the tax on the Big Insurer, who do you think will end up paying??

[Caretha]

66. Yeah your right

and the Firefighters Union is wrong because you understand this legistlation so much better than their union leaders and their lawyers. :eyes:

Give it up. You have zero credibility on this one.

[ChadwickHenryWard]

69. That's very bad economics.

All costs are passed on to the consumers. That's a corporation's only source of revenue.

[dkf]

2. The Trifecta.

[Skittles]

3. wooo! firemen under the bus

I like firemen

[Autumn]

4. I like firemen too,

when I was a little girl I wanted to be one.

[paulsby]

7. cops are with the firefighters

same issue, same position.

question: "why did god create cops? answer: so firefighters could have heros too!"

lol

(former firefighter myself)...

[Skittles]

8. it's hard for anyone to trash firemen, ya know?

yes INDEED

[vadawg]

10. lol dude i hate firemen :) i could have a rescued puppy on my lap and id still get the finger as i

drive by, mike the fireman could have ax3e murdered his whole family and a bunch of kittens and be on the run in his engine and people would still wave at him. did i say how much i hate firemen :)

[paulsby]

21. i once ran into a burning building to pull people out

because they were jumping out windows to get out of this building and the fire dept. still wasn't on scene yet.

my partner and i managed to clear the building. i was bent over vomiting from smoke inhalation when the FF's arrived.

one came up to me, after finding out what happened and he proceeded to berate me for doing HIS job.

seriously.

i have never come closer to an excessive use of force than that moment. it took every ounce of willpower not to punch him in the nose.

as a former ff'er, i love those guys. but THAT guy was an idiot.

[Generic Other]

15. teachers too...public service means living high off the hog...

We have the cushy jobs, right? The Cadillac plans with the champagne and caviar benefits.

So when do police, firefighters and teachers hit the picket lines to protest this crap?

[tbyg52]

45. It's getting crowded under here. nt

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. Not good for Obama.

[ProSense]

6. All the unions issued stern statements before the meeting, the question is

what comes out of it.

Also, the excise tax does not affect firemen or other high-risk workers.

[Bluebear]

11. "the excise tax does not affect...high-risk workers." - god you just make shit up, don't you?

[NYC_SKP]

14. Not to kick this stupid post, but yes, Bluebear, high risk workers ARE exempt.

god you just love to make shit up, don't you?

snip

The Senate-passed bill would establish a 40 percent tax on the cost of health insurance policies above $8,400 for individuals and $23,000 for families (the cost below those thresholds would not be taxed). Some people, such as police officers, firefighters and others whose insurance is expensive because they hold high-risk jobs would be exempt.

snip

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/75015-health-insurance-tax-likely-to-survive-labor-leader-says

[Bluebear]

16. thank you for kicking the stupid post...

but even more so for actually citing something in your answer :)

(I don't click on those blind links) Thanks!

[flyarm]

20. ahhh that is not what the AFL-CIO is posting on their Official boards!

Click on it yourself..and see for yourself and the new articles they are posting ..

I took this directly off their board........

White house may deal on "cadillac" insurance tax
Denver Post Wire Report
Posted: 01/11/2010 01:00:00 AM MST


WASHINGTON — White House economist Christina Romer has indicated a readiness to negotiate a proposed tax on high-cost health plans as a means of financing a health care overhaul.

President Barack Obama supports the Senate approach to "Cadillac" health-insurance plans. The House measure would impose income taxes on high-wage earners.

Obama's supporters in organized labor say taxing the health-insurance plans would hit them hardest and is unfair. Obama is meeting with union leaders today.

Romer said on ABC's "This Week" that there could be exceptions made for older workers who rely more heavily on health insurance and those in dangerous jobs such as first responders in law enforcement.


this article i got off the AFL_CIO NOW BLOG

http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/12/17/trumka-senate-health-care-bill-must-change-to-be-real-reform/


Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14162831#ixzz0cQ5Yiz9u

i got this off the AFL-CIO NOW BLOG>>>>>>>
as posted here..I copied and will now paste.......

***see the word..MAY ...**{/b]
this is under daily news clips:

Unions Oppose Possible Health Insurance Tax (NYT)

Trumka Speaks at National Press Club (WP)

Obama Talks with Labor Leaders, Commanders (MH)

Battle Over TSA Chief Looms in Senate (CNN)

*** the above is from this article posted on the AFL-CIO board.***

White House May Deal on 'Cadillac' Insurance Tax (DP)

[Bluebear]

47. +1

[blueworld]

24. The WaPo and several others disagree, but what else is new?

What the WaPo editorial states is that the threshold will be higher for high-risk jobs (26K) and the threshold will also be higher for more expensive states. The threshold will also change over the next several years.

Before my eyes glazed over, I read the only .pdf I could find and that seems to be true, however the details change every 5 minutes and there are other "extenuating circumstances" that "supercede" paragraph xxx in section 777 every 3 pages.

[SammyWinstonJack]

51. Make up shit to defend Obama at any and all cost.

Sickening, isn't it? :puke:

[Bluebear]

79. Yes.

[flyarm]

19. yes it will! ..stop the lies! Now! eom

[MissDeeds]

60. + 1000

[pansypoo53219]

9. most of them ARE republikkklans by the way.

georgee thew them under the bus and they didn't CARE.

[Bluebear]

13. I don't buy that most firefighters are Republican.

In any case, solidarity with their Union.

[Donnachaidh]

17. back that up with a link source?

We're long time firefighter family and there are NO pukes in our family.

Source? Or ass-stat?

[QC]

26. I suspect that "fact" came from the anal archive,

a very popular source of information lately.

[JVS]

28. the anal archive!

:rofl:

[flyarm]

18. This retired member of APFA will also hold them accountable..In NOV..

and again in 2012..

I just know i will be too busy to vote..or to work on any democratic campaign!..I will have to find a job in retirement to now double pay for what i already paid for with my labor for 33 years!

[Sherman A1]

55. Same Here

This UFCW member may have other plans on election day, or just go to the polls and submit a blank ballot.

[bvar22]

22. K&R ..The "Campaign Obama" hated the "Cadillac Tax".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8wmN3wvhNM&feature=player_embedded

Where is THIS Obama now that we need him? :shrug:

[amborin]

23. K&R this tax will affect 30 mill workers, unionized and unionized alike; an outrage!

[DisgustedInMN]

25. K&R

[lsewpershad]

27. K&R

[pleah]

29. K&R

[SeattleGirl]

30. I wish they would first turn that anger on Congress.

Not saying they shouldn't be mad at Obama, but since Congress is actually working on the bill, I say go kick some cans over there with some of that anger. They definitely need their heads knocked together.

[Bluebear]

31. On the other hand, the "Cadillac tax" is the first thing we heard that Obama is "committed to"

He surely didn't support public option, etc...but this tax somehow caught his interest.

[FrenchieCat]

36. Actually, Obama didn't say that,

the media that you so deeply loved used it in a headline.

I know it sucks to be so at the beck and call of dispensing media talking point,
till what they write magically turns into what Obama said...especially if it sounds
negative to you as you post nonsense after nonsense posts that all equal to the same thing;
that you can't stand this President, and the more you can help turn against him,
the happier you'll be.....fuck everything and anyone else.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Puglover]

48. Bluebear do yourself a favor.

Ignore it.

[Bluebear]

65. Sage advice, friend.

It's like talking to an ashtray, anyhow.

[Vidar]

35. Real heroes take on a false idol.

[grahamhgreen]

38. This crap bill is dividing our party, why don't they represent us???

[tbyg52]

46. >>why don't they represent us???

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[rateyes]

58. We have a winner!

[grahamhgreen]

78. Oh, right...!

[democrank]

39. K & R

[branders seine]

42. Obama is no friend of unions or of non-union workers.

He needs to own up to this egregiously broken promise. But he won't.

[tbyg52]

52. Or the working/middle class in general, from what I've seen. nt

[flyarm]

53. the "minders" are here I see...many deleted posts..does not surprise me..

they send their one or two to each thread..guess they are getting their nuts cut off lately!

Gosh what does that remind me of??????

oh yeah the paid bushbots of ole......

[rateyes]

54. Damned straight we will.

He signs a bill with this tax and he can kiss 2012 goodbye.

[marshall]

56. I hope they propose a realistic alternative plan to raise the money

It's got to come from somewhere.

[rateyes]

61. Tax the fucking hell out of the reverse Robin Hoods that keep stealing

from the poor and giving to the rich.

[marshall]

63. It all depends on where the sliding bar defining the word "rich" stops

It's all relative. To some people, a person with a so-called "cadillac health plan" is pretty damned rich.

[rateyes]

67. It's like porn..

you know it when you see it.

[KakistocracyHater]

71. how about the rate on the rich in the 50s, for starters? & apply it wherever

they go, after all, we now have China as a competitor & we must balance all those "made in china" sales..........when will they realize the 'new' Medicis are a threat to national security? aka most greedy ceo's who wrongly think they're deo's & put money-making as "God's work" over their doors, ignoring all those pesky-must-be-commies-red parts in their own Bibles?

Make it illegal to get rich off an area in the U.S. without paying their dues to local & state governments.

[Tansy_Gold]

73. I have NO health insurance and I don't consider

having a "cadillac" health plan to be rich enough to be taxed like this.

I fall into the income category that would get a healthy (pun intended) subsidy to buy private insurance, and I still oppose this absurdity/obscenity of taxing working people's benefits, whether it is done directly or indirectly via taxes on the insurers.

For fuck's sake, congress and Obama, you've got the 1% of the country who own close to 50% of the wealth or whatever the ACCURATE statistic is. Why the hell aren't you proposing taxing them????



Tansy Gold

[Goldstein1984]

59. This isn't health care reform

:puke:
Mandated purchase of insurance
:puke:
Negotiating away protection for pre-existing conditions
:puke:
Using tax dollars to subsidize insurance companies
:puke:
No public option
:puke: :puke: :puke:
No universal health coverage

[invictus]

64. K&R

[Barbara2423]

70. The White House is going to drop the idea of taxing so called

Cadillac Plans.

[girl_interrupted]

72. K&R

[inna]

74. kick

[Better Believe It]

75. Contrary to what some have written, the firefighters union supported Obama's election in 2008

For Immediate Release
August 14, 2008
Contact: Bill Glanz
[phone] cell
David Roscow
[phone] ext. 22


International Association of Fire Fighters Endorses Senator Barack Obama for President

Obama sends video message to 3,500 delegates at IAFF Convention in Las Vegas and Senator Biden to speak on his behalf

Las Vegas, NV – The International Association of Fire Fighters today announced its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president, praising the Illinois senator for his support of fire fighters and working families.

“On every issue important to fire fighters Senator Obama is and has been in our corner,” IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said. “The IAFF is the most bipartisan union in the AFL-CIO, and we support those who support us. We can’t overlook Senator McCain’s service to our country, but we also can’t overlook his poor record on issues critical to the financial security of our 290,000 members.”

http://www.iaff.org/Comm/Press/082008ObamaSupport.htm

[Bluebear]

80. Thank you, talk about not dancing with them that brung you.

[Brickbat]

76. Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours

Well then, I'll fucking KICK IT.

[donheld]

77. +1

[Faryn Balyncd]

81. K&R-How low have we sunk if our best hope of stopping pseudo"reform" is electing a RW Rethug in MA??

...when even progressives who know better are willing to cave & pass Lieberman/Baucus-Care?