Legislation & Politics

Week Ending June 5, 2009

President Obama Presses for Health Care Reform; Affirms Support for Public Plan Option

President Barack Obama reaffirmed the need to move forward on health care reform which builds upon employer-based coverage and includes a choice of options, including a public health insurance plan. The President’s June 2 letter to Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) called for Congress to complete its work on health care reform so that it could be signed into law by October.  The President reaffirmed the need to make health care coverage affordable and his support for proposals requiring employers to share in the costs of health care coverage.  The President also said:  “I strongly believe that Americans should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans.  This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest.”

Trigger Proposal Floated to Derail Public Health Insurance Option

One of AFSCME’s priorities in health care reform is to establish a public health insurance option that would be available as an alternative to private coverage.  A public health insurance option is needed to inject competition into the private insurance market in order to drive down costs and improve the quality of care.

Recently, however, a proposal for a “trigger” has been floated by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) that would prevent a public plan from being made available in most states.  The proposal would bar the public health insurance option in a state unless the private insurance market becomes even more anti-competitive.  This “trigger" proposal is an attempt to deny people the choice of health plans.  It would delay needed federal action, impede efforts to bring competition and choice to workers and employers, and result in higher health care costs being loaded on to families and businesses across America. 

KEEP HEALTH CARE REFORM ON THE RIGHT TRACK

CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY!

Now is the time to press senators to support guaranteed, quality, affordable health care coverage for all, which includes the choice of a public health insurance plan without delay.

Call 202-224-3121 and tell your senators to support health care reform that continues the employer-based system and offers everyone the choice of a public health insurance plan, including a public health insurance plan option from the start.

White House Issues Report on the Economic Case for Health Care Reform

This week, the White House Council of Economic Advisers issued a pivotal report, "The Economic Case for Health Care Reform," explaining why health reform is vital for the future of the American economy.  The detailed and in-depth report noted that without health care reform, American workers and families will continue to experience eroding health care benefits and stagnating wages caused by the pressure of escalating health insurance premiums. In addition, increases in Medicare and Medicaid spending will lead to further strain on federal and state budgets. With reform that makes health care more affordable and expands coverage, a typical family of four would see their income increase by approximately $2,600 in 2020 (in 2009 dollars) and by nearly $10,000 in 2030, compared to their income without reform.

President McEntee Meets with Key Senate Committee Chairman on AFSCME Priorities in Health Care Reform

President McEntee and several other union presidents met with Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus this week.  The Finance Committee is one of the two Senate committees that are writing this year’s health care reform legislation.  President McEntee stressed to Senator Baucus AFSCME’s strong opposition to capping the current tax exclusion for employees’ health care benefits, and our union’s commitment to choice in a reformed system, including a public health insurance plan option.

Senate Republicans Oppose Offering Choice of a Public Health Insurance Plan

Key Senate Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee have initiated strong opposition to allowing Americans to have a choice of a public health insurance plan option alongside private insurance plans.  Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), the ranking Republican on a key Senate panel developing the health care reform bill, has stated that the Republican caucus sees the exclusion of a public health plan option as a litmus test for healthcare reform.   Grassley also maintained that Senate Republicans oppose requiring employers to share in the responsibility for ensuring affordable, quality coverage for their employees.

House Passes Paid Parental Leave for Federal Employees

The House passed the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act (H.R. 626) by a vote of 258 to 154 on June 4. Saul Schniderman, President of the Library of Congress Professional Guild, AFSCME Local 2910, joined the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), for a press conference and spoke in support of the bill.

A potentially harmful amendment submitted by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) was also defeated. The amendment would have required that parental leave be made available only to those who have exhausted their sick and vacation leave, and that the paid leave is treated as an advance on additional sick/vacation leave rather than additional days of paid leave. This would have eliminated the additional benefit of paid parental leave proposed by the bill.

Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Bill Advances in House

A House subcommittee approved a draft version of the FY 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill. It includes $3.4 billion for state and local law enforcement programs, which is $197 million more than that provided in FY 2009, and $671 million more than requested by the Obama administration. This law enforcement funding includes $298 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which, combined with the $1 billion provided in the Recovery Act, will put 7,000 new officers on the street. The bill also would provide $6.2 billion for the Bureau of Prisons to address shortages in corrections staffing, education and drug treatment. This funding level is $97 million more than what the President requested, and $3 million more than 2009 levels. The bill will be taken up by the full committee next week.

President Obama Requests Additional Funds for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

On Tuesday, President Obama requested an additional $2 billion to prepare for the expected resurgence of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus next fall and winter.  This $2 billion is in addition to the $2 billion approved by the House in the supplemental FY 2009 spending bill (H.R. 2346).  The President also asked for authority to draw upon up to $3.1 billion of unspent stimulus funds.  These funds would only be tapped in an emergency situation. The House and Senate are hammering out a final supplemental bill, with the goal of voting on the bill next week. AFSCME will advocate for the additional funding to be included in the final bill.

State Budgets Face Shortfalls Over Next Three Years

Although the economic recovery package championed by President Obama and enacted earlier this year provided states and local governments with a significant amount of fiscal relief, the forecast for state budgets through 2011 remains bleak.  States will likely see budget gaps topping $230 billion as tax revenues continue to drop, according to a report issued this week by the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers. These budget gaps threaten the level of investment in public services, which means jobs and a strong economy.  AFSCME is pressing for continued and robust federal spending for public services to help state and local governments, in large part through our Make America Happen campaign.  For more information about the campaign, go to http://makeamericahappen.com/.

AFSCME Endorses Judge Sonia Sotomayor

At its recent meeting, the AFSCME International Executive Board approved a resolution endorsing the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.  President Obama nominated Sotomayor last week, highlighting the judge’s exemplary legal record, her compelling life story and strong academic achievements.  Judge Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to serve on the high court.

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