Even Big Labor Unions Drop Support For Obamacare
Posted 04/26/2013 06:35 PM ET
Health Care Politics: As ObamaCare rolls out, some of its biggest backers from labor to D.C. lawmakers are having second thoughts. It's a sign that the idea of ending this national nightmare isn't about to go away.
Late last week, the 22,000-member United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers dropped a bombshell on the Obama administration, not only withdrawing its support for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but also demanding its repeal.
The reason: ObamaCare subsidizes low-paid non-union workers in small companies that don't insure their employees, while leaving union shops with ObamaCare's higher health care costs and a 40% tax on Cadillac plans by 2018. That's a "death warrant" for unions, as the Atlantic's Megan McArdle noted.
"These provisions jeopardize our multiemployer health plans, have the potential to cause a loss of work for our members, create an unfair bidding advantage for those contractors who do not provide health coverage to their workers and, in the worst case, may cause our members and their families to lose the benefits they currently enjoy as participants in multiemployer health plans," said union President Kinsey Robinson.
It's the latest shoe to drop in the Great Buyers' Remorse of ObamaCare's biggest backers.
The call from the roofers was hardly the first shot fired on this terrible piece of legislation.
Last January, Sheet Metal Worker Local 85 in Atlanta asked for new subsidies for lower-paid union members.
This past August, the Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers went on strike against Verizon over health care cutbacks that came as a result of the ObamaCare Cadillac tax, which Verizon has to prepare for now.
As unions peel away, Democrats who voted for "reform" are backing away from ObamaCare, too.
The New York Times reports that Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Benjamin Cardin of Maryland are hearing from constituents about rate hikes, difficulties complying with the law, and being swamped by the implementation requirements.
Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin is incensed by the Obama administration's decision to raid public health coffers of $332 million to pay for public relations for the highly unpopular health care exchanges.
"I just see a huge train wreck coming down," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who may be resigning to get out of the way. He gave ObamaCare "a failing grade."
What is one to make of this discontent in the ranks of ObamaCare's biggest backers?
For starters, it's the cold water of reality hitting those who must deal with the day-to-day costs.
It also shows the intransigence of America's leaders, at the White House and in Big Labor, who have shown indifference to the nightmare of ObamaCare as its measures begin to be implemented. With Democrats and their union backers calling for an end to ObamaCare and Republicans against it all along the government's medical takeover might not be here to stay.
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