Obamacare: Sweetheart Deal for Unions

Union members will apparently be excused from paying the tax on Cadillac policies that all other such policy holders will pay. From the story :

“Unions tentatively struck a deal Tuesday to exempt collectively bargained healthcare plans from a tax on high-cost plans expected to be used to help raise revenue for the healthcare overhaul,” CongressDaily reports. “AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern and United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger met with House Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi Tuesday, a day after labor leaders met at the White House to express their opposition to the excise tax. . . . Exempting collectively bargained plans would appease unions that often offer expensive health plans in lieu of higher wages. The deal could also help Obama avoid breaking his promise not to tax those earning less than $200,000? (Edney, 1/13).

What a travesty. So, if a Teamster and an unrepresented worker have the same high end policy, the Teamster won’t be taxed but the other fellow–poor sap–will.  Obamacare is more malodorous than a poorly run tannery.

More analysis over at Secondhand Smoke .