AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issued the following statement on passage of the Senate health care bill, saying the House bill is superior.
In the face of inexcusable partisanship, obstruction and gamesmanship,
it is remarkable that Majority Leader Reid was able to move a health
care bill through the United States Senate. Not since the passage of
Medicare 44 years ago have we seen Republican scare tactics so blatantly
contrary to the interests of the American people.
At this historic moment, it is so important to the future of working
Americans–and to our country–to get health care reform right. Despite
doing some good things, the Senate bill remains inadequate. Substantial
changes must be made in the final bill.
Genuine reform must bring down health costs, hold insurance companies
accountable, assure that all Americans can get the health care they need
and be financed fairly.
That’s why we have been steadfast in support of a public health
insurance option. It is the way to break the stranglehold of the
insurance industry that has led to skyrocketing health care costs that
have especially penalized small business.
Employers must pay their fair share.
It makes no sense to tax the benefits of hard-working Americans to pay
for health reform. The House bill curbs insurance companies and taxes
the wealthy who benefited so richly from the Bush tax cuts. The Senate
bill instead includes exorbitant new taxes on middle class health
benefits that would affect one in five workers with employer-provided
health coverage–or about 31 million people–in 2016. That’s the wrong
way to pay for health care reform and it’s political suicide.
The House bill is the right model for reform. It covers more people,
takes effect more quickly and is financed more fairly. The AFL-CIO is
ready to fight on behalf of all working families to produce a final bill
that can be called genuine reform. Working people cannot accept
anything less.
