Hey Rahm Emanuel: Twist An Arm in Support of the Public Option, Not Against It

[Better Believe It]

Hey Rahm: Twist An Arm in Support of the Public Option, Not Against It
Trumka Scheduled To Meet With Rahm Today To Cut Deal on Public Option
by Jane Hamsher
September 30, 2009

We hoped it wasn't true. We hoped that when Richard Trumka committed to back a public option and threatened to withhold support from Democrats who wouldn't vote for one that it wasn't just pre-convention rhetoric.

But then the big guns came out -- Baucus decided that rather than taxing the rich, he would tax the health care plans that seriously affected AFL-CIO workers who had given up wage hikes in exchange for comprehensive health care coverage over years in contract negotiations. When Gerry McEntee rightly called the Baucus bill "bullshit" from the floor of the convention, Nancy Pelosi was then dispatched to say they were considering the same thing in the House.

I defy anyone to find me one single example of the White House twisting one arm for a public option. Just one. But when Rahm and Trumka meet today, it will be after a month of very serious threats to the AFL-CIO carried out at the highest levels. It's the kind of "arm twisting" that only the executive branch is capable of, and it has been done to crush support for a public option, not opposition.

I wrote recently about the fact that people within the AFL-CIO were getting tremendous pressure from the White House to push Trumka into backing down. And sources familiar with the situation say that since the other unions outside the AFL have already caved and are kicking Rahm's trigger football, Trumka feels he has little support for his position and no choice but to relent.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/09/30-11

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Pelosi Says “F*&k You” to Trumka and the AFL-CIO
By Jane Hamsher
September 26, 2009

The AFL-CIO is most affected by a tax on high cost insurance plans -- many of their workers have foregone wage hikes in exchange for comprehensive insurance for decades in contract negotiations. It's what Gerry McEntee was talking about when he called the Baucus bill "bullshit." It empowers other unions with lower wage workers at the expense of those that organize higher wage workers, like many of those in the AFL-CIO.

Incoming AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has been outspoken in his insistence on the inclusion of a public option in any health reform bill, and has threatened to withhold support from Democrats who won't vote for it. Over the past week there was a lot of winking in reports that the White House was leaning on progressive groups to drop their support for the public option. It absolutely did happen, but the use of the word "groups" is probably misleading -- the organization they are talking about, the only one that matters, is the AFL-CIO.

Since other unions outside the AFL-CIO are working the yo-yo on the trigger, Trumka is the lone holdout. He's the mainstay, and there is tremendous pressure building within the AFL in response to arm twisting from the White House for him to cave. And if he falls, it's going to be difficult for the rest of the veal pen not to follow suit. So, he's being directly threatened.

The message is clear: "Get in line or we pay for your precious 'public option' by fucking you on health care benefits."

If Trumka suddenly starts singing the praises of triggers (even if they instantly "yo-yo" it back and insist he was misquoted), you'll know it worked.

Please read the complete article at:

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/26/pelosi-says-fk-you-to-trumka-and-the-afl-cio/

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New labor leader pushes public option at White House
By Sam Youngman
September 30, 2009

Richard Trumka, the newly elected president of the AFL-CIO, met with President Obama's chief of staff at the White House Wednesday, making a push for the embattled public health insurance option.

Trumka, who replaced John Sweeney, has pushed Obama and Congress to pass the public option that was twice defeated in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. A spokesman for the AFL-CIO said Trumka continued that push in a meeting with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

Also on Wednesday's agenda was the Employee Free Choice Act, which lost momentum last month when the healthcare debate took center stage. The bill, commonly referred to as "card-check" for its provision that would alter unionization rules, is one of the AFL-CIO's top priorities -- and one of the president's old campaign promises. Trumka and Obama reportedly discussed the bill's progress during their Wednesday morning meeting.

Afterward, AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale said that Trumka "reiterated our commitment to creating good paying jobs, passing health care reform with a public option, the importance of passing major labor law reform and re-regulating financial markets."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/60919-new-labor-leader-pushes-public-option-at-white-house-

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Sorry - That'd Be Bad For Business

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahm_Emanuel#Career_in_finance

[Dr Fate]

2. LOL! Rahm's "tough guy" act is only for fighting "the far left."

LOL! Who says that DEM conserva-er, I mean "centrists" have no spine?

They are quite brave & steadfast when it comes to "standing up" to and protecting us from those rabble rousing Liberals & pro-refrom moderates.

[ProSense]

3. More silly spin.

Hamsher: AFL Says No Deal Between Trumka and Rahm on Public Option

This morning we reported that there was a meeting between Richard Trumka and Rahm Emanuel today. According to AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale, the meeting is over and Trumka is standing strong on the public option:

As the new President of the AFL-CIO Trumka had a broad meeting today with the White House on all of the issues that are important to working families. Trumka reiterated our commitment to creating good paying jobs, passing health care reform with a public option, the importance of passing major labor law reform and re-regulating financial markets.

Rahm is the chief of staff he coordinates activities. Domestic policy is the role of the Domestic Policy Council. The notion that Rahm meeting with Trumka to cut a deal is beyond ludicrous.

[Cha]

6. What does that matter to the

handwringers who need more red meat?

[rudy23]

4. Rahm's fantasy is to beat back a bunch of hippies and be asked by the Repubs to join their party

At least it sure seems like it sometimes.

[invictus]

7. +1

[harun]

8. Got that right.

[Better Believe It]

5. AFL Says No Deal Between Trumka and Rahm on Public Option

AFL Says No Deal Between Trumka and Rahm on Public Option
By Jane Hamsher
September 30, 2009

This morning we reported that there was a meeting between Richard Trumka and Rahm Emanuel today. According to AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale, the meeting is over and Trumka is standing strong on the public option:

As the new President of the AFL-CIO Trumka had a broad meeting today with the White House on all of the issues that are important to working families. Trumka reiterated our commitment to creating good paying jobs, passing health care reform with a public option, the importance of passing major labor law reform and re-regulating financial markets.

I asked if Trumka considered "triggers" to be a public option. He responded:

Trumka is sticking to what he said on triggers all along - which is that we haven't seen any plans that would be as effective as the public option, and he told that to Rahm Emanuel today.

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/30/afl-says-no-deal-between-trumka-and-rahm-on-public-option/

[flamingdem]

9. Oy vey, Rahmmm nt