Democratic allies of organized labor in the House are standing strong against the Senate Finance Committee plan to tax so-called Cadillac health insurance plans to help finance a health care overhaul. Calling it a non-starter Representative Joe Courtney, D-Conn., has sent a letter signed by 157 House Democrats to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., urging her to reject excise tax proposals. The plan would assess a 40% tax on high-value insurance plans.
The tax has raised concerns among some Senators, but it is a central part of the Senate Finance Committee's plan to raise the revenue needed to pay for an expansion of coverage to the uninsured and other key parts of the bill. The bill does set higher thresholds before the tax would take effect on plans for retirees and workers in high-risk industries.
Representative Sander Levin, D-Mich., says this tax will not, it's safe to say, be in the House bill. But, Courtney said members are very concerned that the language could end up in a final conference report given support for the idea in the Senate and the White House.
Powered by iNet Solutions Group ©2011 All Rights Reserved.