Support Reform, Not a Middle Class Tax Increase

“Union members have been fighting for health care for decades, and we are not about to stop now, when it really matters,” said USW Local 2006 President Jeff Kaminski.

Yesterday a delegation of labor leaders delivered over 2,000 letters, petitions and postcards from union members across the state to the Milwaukee office of Senator Herb Kohl.  This delivery was part of an ongoing effort to pass health insurance reform without adding to the tax burden on working families.

Participants from AFSCME Council 24, AFSCME Council 48, IBEW Local 2150, UAW Region 4, UAW Local 1866, USW Local 2-232 and USW Local 2006 were on hand to discuss how reform will impact their membership.  The delegation had the opportunity to sit down with members of Senator Kohl’s staff and express their concerns as the Senate bill moves forward.

“We want to thank Sen. Kohl for consistently supporting comprehensive health insurance reform,” said Sara Rogers, Executive Vice President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “But the Senate plan to tax middle class insurance benefits is unacceptable.  The House’s bill pays for reform through a modest tax on the wealthiest earners, who benefited so much from Bush-era tax cuts.  The House bill gets it right.”

The current Senate health reform bill (H.R. 3590) would tax health plans worth more than $8,500 per year for individuals and $23,000 per year for families.  For workers in high-risk occupations and retirees 55 or older, the bill would tax plans worth more than $9,850 for individuals and $26,000 for families.  In 17 high-cost states, the tax thresholds would be increased by 20 percent in 2013, 10 percent in 2014, and 5 percent in 2015.  This would amount to an enormous tax on health benefits for workers, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet. 

Wisconsin union members and their families have made 5,221 phone calls and written 50,828 letters to Congress in support of responsibly funded reform since the health care debate began over the summer.   Working families hope that Congress will ask employers to pay their fair share towards reform.

Although the clip is not available online, Steven Williams, Political, Legislative and Education Director for AFSCME Council 24 did an excellent job of explaining that his members support health insurance reform, but cannot afford additional taxes on WISN-TV ABC’s News at 5.

Wisconsin Public Radio’s coverage of the letter delivery is available on line.  “Labor unions voice concerns over proposed health insurance tax.” (Be sure to scroll down to 12/17/09): http://wpr.org/news/newsstories.cfm

(Top Photo: USW Local 2-232 Financial Secretary Treasurer Ralph Schwieger with Annie Wacker of AFSCME Council 48 and Jeff Kaminsky, President of USW Local 2006.  Bottom Photo:  Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Sara Rogers speaking to reporters outside of Sen. Kohl’s office.  Back row (from left to right): Steven Williams of AFSCME Council 24, Ralph Schwieger of USW Local 2-232, Jeff Kaminsky of USW Local 2-2006, Annie Wacker of AFSCME Council 48, Brad Schwanda of UAW Region 4, Gary Mikolajczyk of UAW Local 1866, and Doug Calvert of IBEW Local 2150.  Credit for Both Photo: Justin Geiger.  For more pictures from yesterday’s event visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157623025338172/.)