Off-topic but interesting…

When millions of blue-collar workers were leaning toward John McCain during the 2008 campaign, labor unions moved many of them into Barack Obama’s column by repeatedly hammering one theme: Mr. McCain wanted to tax their health benefits.

But now labor leaders are fuming that President Obama has endorsed a tax on high-priced, employer-sponsored health insurance policies as a way to help cover the cost of health care reform….

But whether the tax is negotiable remains unclear. Not only has Mr.
Obama specifically endorsed the idea, but the White House and Senate
leaders see the tax as pivotal in paying for the health care overhaul
and addressing runaway health care costs.

Many Democrats and
union officials fear that if both sides dig in on the issue, it could
create a rift between the WH and labor – with some union
leaders hinting they might lobby aggressively against the entire health
care bill if it contains such a tax.

Union leaders have repeatedly warned the WH about the strong
rank-and-file dismay, which could hurt the Democrats in Congressional
elections this fall, especially in battleground states like OH, PA and WI….

~ New York Times, January 8

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