Trumka To TPMDC: 'I'm Happy' With Final Health Care Bill

[ProSense]

Trumka To TPMDC: 'I'm Happy' With Final Health Care Bill

Christina Bellantoni

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in an interview this morning that union groups view the health care bill as "a good first step."

He did not directly address a question about reports of changes to the excise tax that unions were uncomfortable with early in the negotiations, but lauded the final product and said it can be improved upon.

He said the union talks with people writing the final bill have yielded positive changes, even if it's not everything they initially wanted. "I'm happy about what we've been able to do to change the funding," Trumka told TPMDC in a brief interview in the White House Rose Garden after President Obama signed the jobs bill.

Trumka said the discussions among Obama, Democratic leadership and the unions yielded compromises meant to "break the hold of the people who said 'No.'"

We also asked about the impromptu White House meeting Trumka had yesterday when reports first came out that the unions might not like the changes to the final health care legislation about to become public with the Congressional Budget Office score.

"It wasn't a negotiation, it was a talk among friends," he said.

SEIU's Andy Stern also attended the ceremony.

[Beetwasher]

1. Must b a Corp sellout, right?

:sarcasm:

[mzmolly]

12. DLC shill, that man!

:P

[spoony]

2. His problem is in believing it's a "step" that will lead to another.

The same trap the "it's okay they'll fix it later" crowd has fallen into.

I respect him, but do not share his optimism.

[saracat]

4. He doesn't "believe" anything. This is business. They made a deal. They didn't even survey the

membership.

[ProSense]

5. Yes, it's smart business

high health insurance premiums impact union wages. Every time premiums go up, there is the likelihood that total compensation is impacted, meaning wages could become stagnant as the cost of benefits increases.

The union leaders know this.

[Brickbat]

8. "Become stagnant."

Some of us are hoping for stagnant, having seen reduced buying power over the past 30 years because of health insurance costs.

[ProSense]

10. You're hoping wages become stagnant? n/t

[Brickbat]

16. I was posting sardonically.

[saracat]

9. Yeah, these leaders are sooo much smarter than the dumb union rank and file.

It sure is good they have them to think for them! :sarcasm:

[ProSense]

11. No, they're smarter than distortionists. n/t

[saracat]

13. Nice so the machinists and anyone who is union and disagrees with HCR is now not only dumb but a

distortionist. Really , really nice.

[ProSense]

14. Think of it this way

for all the claims that Obama and the Dems are lying and selling out to the insurance companies, there is a counter claim that those are distortions.

Shorter answer: Yes.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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

[ProSense]

18. I love the smell

of rank hypocrisy.

[saracat]

19. Where is the hypocrisy? I was talking "Leadership" Some equate that with

the rank and file and some know better.

[Cha]

20. Not me..I think it stinks

to high hell:)

[saracat]

21. Ah of course but the rank and file mean nothing to some. After all"leadership" just like the Admin,'

would never do anything against the interest of the rank and file. And the union member should just "trust" them as we the people ought to "trust our leaders because they always have our best interests at heart.:sarcasm:

[amborin]

22. you know zero about unions, wages, benefits; you are posting non-sense

[grantcart]

17. Of course the accusation that union leaders do not represent the

rank and file is one of the Republican Party's main talking points.


Would be most interested in any relevent link that shows the majority of the rank and file want to see this bill defeated.

I work every week with APWU, AFGE, Mail Handlers Union and while all of them want (like most of us) changes made I have yet to meet a single union steward that hopes the bill is defeated.

[bluestateguy]

3. That tax will never materialize no matter what the bill says

We will have a new president and Congress by 2018, and they will face major pressure to either raise the caps or find a new source of revenue. I'm sure the AFL-CIO will be ready for that fight when it comes.

[girl gone mad]

6. I don't think any of the reforms will ever materialize, to be frank.

There are just too many loopholes written into this bill to see much of a change in the way insurance companies operate, and I sincerely doubt people are going to bother with the mandates.

This entire topic has crossed the line into complete absurdity now that there are no remaining chances for substantive reform. It's time to put it all behind us.

[karynnj]

24. The current plan raises the threshold where the tax is applied.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x230368

[depakid]

7. The rank and file however is considerably less amused

[geek tragedy]

23. If only organized labor were as legitimate as anonymous

internet complainers.