With Public Option Removed, Public, Labor Groups Sour On Bill

[maryinthemorn]

http://news.firedoglake.com/2009/12/16/with-public-option-removed-public-labor-groups-sour-on-bill/

With Public Option Removed, Public, Labor Groups Sour On Bill

By: David Dayen Wednesday December 16, 2009 1:47 pm

The results of the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, with parts leaked out by Chuck Todd, shows what polls have been showing for a long time – that without the public option, support for the health care bill on the left is collapsing. If you want to know why the White House wants to get this bill passed quickly, poll numbers like these are a good reason:



Just 32% in the poll believe POTUS’ health care plan is a “good idea,” 47% say it’s a “bad idea.” Highest “bad idea” yet.

Most of the movement on the “bad idea” comes from some of the president’s core support groups, folks upset about lost public option.

Still, large majorities of the president’s core support groups believe his plan is a “good idea,” but the margins have shrunk.

Also: 44% say better NOT to pass the current #hcr plan, while 41% say better SOMETHING passes. First time NBC-WSJ poll had that upside down.



This is not in any way surprising. The public option has outpolled the overall health care bill for a number of months. With the plug pulled on it, of course the overall bill would suffer.

This collapse of support is starting to affect key groups. In particular, organized labor is showing the strain. They held a series of meetings today about the bill and whether or not they should withdraw support. The groups could either formally oppose the bill or deny any resources toward passage.

Labor leaders are fuming at the concessions that Democratic leadership made in the last few days to win the support of the caucus’s most conservative members, notably Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.). A bill that already included one highly objectionable provision (a tax on so-called Cadillac insurance plans) was stripped of a provision beloved by labor: a public alternative to private insurance coverage. Frustration boiled over even further after the leadership succumbed to Lieberman’s demand to jettison even the compromise to the public option — a proposal to expand Medicare to those as young as 55.

I don’t think we should make too much of this – Health Care for America Now, which is a coalition featuring a lot of labor support, quietly endorsed the Senate bill yesterday. But the SEIU backed out of an event where they were slated to offer their support today.

[DrDan]

1. and we should stand with them on this

[IndianaGreen]

2. Hard won union health benefits will be taxed as 'Cadillac plan'

They are out to break the unions!

[karynnj]

7. they raised the threshold to $23,000 for families

When this was initially discussed (at $25,000) even the WSJ was unable to find a union plan above the threshold that would actually be taxed. The average plan was closer to $12,000.

It is complete nonsense to say that taxing premiums above $23,000 would "break the unions".

To me, this sounds like when the Republicans spoke of family farms as the reason to "eliminate the death tax" - ignoring that no one could find an example and that the estate tax really affected the very rich only.

[senseandsensibility]

3. kick

and this exactly how the corporate media will not frame it.

[Thrill]

4. Mandates with no public option is the end of the Democratic Party

.

[Goldstein1984]

5. Of course the people don't support the bill.

It isn't what they asked for, and it isn't what they were promised.

Aside from those who get there information from FoxNews, the American people are not that stupid. Maybe too passive, but not stupid.

[RememberWellstone]

6. Say goodbye

This sucks. It's over...just wake me next November.:mad: