Union Members Exempt from New Health Benefits Tax

Union members and their families who receive healthcare benefits paid for by their employers would be exempted from a new tax on healthcare under an option being proposed by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mt). [snip]

As shown on page 3 of the Baucus outline published by Fox News, healthcare benefits provided under collective bargaining agreements dated on or before January 1, 2013 would be exempt from the tax.

Union agreements dated before January 2013 could be extended indefinitely even if other benefits and terms change. All that’s apparently necessary to perpetuate the pre-2013 date would be to have both parties agree to modifications rather than a new agreement.

This proposal is entirely consistent with the Obama administration’s handling of the GM and Chrysler bailouts which inure to the benefit of the United Autoworkers Union and not to the companies’ shareholders.

It would penalize every non-union recipient of employer-provided healthcare benefits. ..

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