So, lemme get this straight. Tax health benefits for everyone except union members?

[markw]

So, this is change you can believe in?

"The U.S. Senate proposal to impose taxes for the first time on “gold-plated” health plans may bypass generous employee benefits negotiated by unions. "

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aDvu77pZr7k4

And, "gold plated" means virtually any company paid health plan. Check the article for clarification.

 

[Audioholics]

I love our representatives. I suppose we'll all complain but no one will really bother to pick up the phone and call someone about it. Enjoy you (our) new taxes.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

Well at least he is doing something That is the response I get from idiots who voted for this clown. My response is if your in a life raft in the middle of the ocean you don't decide to build a bon fire just to be doing something. jeesh those people make me angry

 

[rnatalli]

It's the legislature's job to look at all angles. Translation: make those in heavily-unionized states feel heard. Relax, it's all talk and will never pass with that provision.

 

[rnatalli]

Enjoy you (our) new taxes.

I'm fine with it, so long as the rules stay tight and force those who can afford insurance to buy it instead of buying a plasma TV.

 

[markw]

I did the math too.

I'm pretty sure it'll take a bigger bite out of those people making $11/hr.

Why should some people be exempt from being taxed on this? Just to garner enough votes to pass the bill? That doesn't add up.

 

[rnatalli]

Why should some people be exempt from being taxed on this? Just to garner enough votes to pass the bill? That doesn't add up.

They shouldn't be exempt. You don't want to brush off comments from those you ultimately need to support the bill. So you give them an audience, let the group discuss it, and watch the majority put them back in line. I've used the same tactic in many business meetings. But you only use it when you're sure the majority agrees with your position.

The people making $11/hour are the ones that should be exempt, but they're also the people who might get covered automatically depending how the final bill rolls out. Too many things still up in the air.

 

[pzaur]

There will be one exemption and it will be all our representatives in the government.

-pat

 

[Nemo128]

Well at least he is doing something That is the response I get from idiots who voted for this clown. My response is if your in a life raft in the middle of the ocean you don't decide to build a bon fire just to be doing something. jeesh those people make me angry

You realize this wasn't drafted or proposed by the White House, right? You do realize it, right? Your comment was just an off-the-cuff partisan-fight-ensuring baseless opinion, right???

I'm no fanboy of any politician, but I don't see anyone but the US Senate involved in this. Yeah, the Finance Committee is chaired by a Dem, and the Dems have majority, blah blah blah. Take up your issues with the US Senate and the Senate Finance Committee.

Blaming everything you don't like on Obama is like blaming everything bad that has happens to this country on "terrorists". Iran is taking a page out of that playbook, by the way. See how quickly they blamed, without proof or reason, the killing of Neda Agha Soltan on terrorists. Man, for someone who hates America so much, Ahmadinejad sure likes our political tactics...

 

[markw]

My only concern is recent history.

They shouldn't be exempt. You don't want to brush off comments from those you ultimately need to support the bill. So you give them an audience, let the group discuss it, and watch the majority put them back in line. I've used the same tactic in many business meetings. But you only use it when you're sure the majority agrees with your position.

The people making $11/hour are the ones that should be exempt, but they're also the people who might get covered automatically depending how the final bill rolls out. Too many things still up in the air.

He's already shown a proclivity to give special treatment to unions. With the GM bailout, bankruptcy, or whatever you want to call it, he's already sold out secured bondholders and allowed the UAW to reap the benefits. So, wherever it comes down to "the unions or them", I'm gonna expect "them" to be taking it up the exhaust pipe.

Yeah, yeah, I know he didn't personally write it but he still has a hand in getting it through.

 

[tcarcio]

You realize this wasn't drafted or proposed by the White House, right? You do realize it, right? Your comment was just an off-the-cuff partisan-fight-ensuring baseless opinion, right???

I'm no fanboy of any politician, but I don't see anyone but the US Senate involved in this. Yeah, the Finance Committee is chaired by a Dem, and the Dems have majority, blah blah blah. Take up your issues with the US Senate and the Senate Finance Committee.

Blaming everything you don't like on Obama is like blaming everything bad that has happens to this country on "terrorists". Iran is taking a page out of that playbook, by the way. See how quickly they blamed, without proof or reason, the killing of Neda Agha Soltan on terrorists. Man, for someone who hates America so much, Ahmadinejad sure likes our political tactics...

Have we forgotten that everything was and to a point everything still is blamed on Bush???? Your right the senate is responsible for this but if it get's to Obama intact I don't think he would say no since the unions pretty much own the guy. If they don't get their payback for throwing their support to him in the election he will pay dearly. Bush is to oil companies as Obama is to unions..........sounds familiar doesn't it....

 

[Nemo128]

If he does, then screw him too. A lot of people refused to write Bush off as a failure after 8 years, yet those same people are quick to write Obama off as one after 5 months. I find it amusing, considering it's warmongering and corporate kickbacks and gross overexpenditures that largely put us here to begin with. I know, I work in the public sector, and it's disgusting the things that our tax dollars are almost literally dumped on and flushed down the toilet.

Bush and Cheney will be living off Haliburton and Xe (formerly Blackwater) money for the rest of their years, and the many lives that could have been saved with money spent on body armor rather than old lazy GS13-15s who don't do anything but sit around b*tching all day about having a "terrorist" for a president and drinking 15 gallons of coffee, not to mention their $25k bonuses for retiring and their ridiculous pension plans courtesy of CSRS, will be a testament to that legacy. Oh I could go on, I could so go on...

And Obama, man, what the hell is wrong with him, trying to keep America's big three automakers in business. Just let them die and take their 3+ million domestic employees with them. Who cares, we need more people unemployed. It guarantees that the companies can pay whatever they want, since everyone will be desperate for work and completely destroy the notion of salary negotiations. That's the real American way, keep the masses subserviant to the dollar while the wealthy few exploit the desperation of the masses. Hell yeah America! *sigh*

 

[bandphan]

and we do know where the unions contribute their elction dollars to

 

[jamie2112]

Again my 2 cents..........

 

[Adam]

Again my 2 cents..........

They'll take more than that.

Hmmm. I wonder what the new saying will be if they ever get rid of the penny.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

You realize this wasn't drafted or proposed by the White House, right? You do realize it, right? Your comment was just an off-the-cuff partisan-fight-ensuring baseless opinion, right???

I'm no fanboy of any politician, but I don't see anyone but the US Senate involved in this. Yeah, the Finance Committee is chaired by a Dem, and the Dems have majority, blah blah blah. Take up your issues with the US Senate and the Senate Finance Committee.

Blaming everything you don't like on Obama is like blaming everything bad that has happens to this country on "terrorists". Iran is taking a page out of that playbook, by the way. See how quickly they blamed, without proof or reason, the killing of Neda Agha Soltan on terrorists. Man, for someone who hates America so much, Ahmadinejad sure likes our political tactics...

Ok if it will make you happy I will rephrase it to they and these. He and they are still idiots though I don't care how you word it. Like I said before though if you have a splinter in your eye you don't wash it out with tabasco sauce. That's what they and he are doing. You don't do the wrong thing just for the sake of doing something. And just so we are clear I did not want McLame in there either.

 

[pzaur]

One word: "Maverick"

-pat

(you shouldn't have to think back to far for this...)

 

[Adam]

One word: "Maverick"

I really liked that movie.

 

[bandphan]

They'll take more than that.

Hmmm. I wonder what the new saying will be if they ever get rid of the penny.

if, it already costs more to mint

 

[annunaki]

And Obama, man, what the hell is wrong with him, trying to keep America's big three automakers in business. Just let them die and take their 3+ million domestic employees with them. Who cares, we need more people unemployed. It guarantees that the companies can pay whatever they want, since everyone will be desperate for work and completely destroy the notion of salary negotiations. That's the real American way, keep the masses subserviant to the dollar while the wealthy few exploit the desperation of the masses. Hell yeah America! *sigh*

This is America, we used to have a capitalist economy (not really any more), in which if one did not change and one's company failed for lack of innovation or bad business dealings (in this case the UAW deals), the business failed.

What Obama and congress have done here is prevent some of these companies from filing bankruptcy so they can completely restructure, thus ridding themselves of near complete union control. Not to mention they are manipulating the operation of the business, forcing CEO's to resign.

Essentially with the Financial and Auto industry bailouts they have said we do not want innovators, we would rather have failures and if you fail we will help you out, if you allow some government control.

When Jim Somebody's company fails down the street the government does not come running to save the 10 jobs his company provided?? He failed because he did not run his company to succeed, why should these large companies be any different?? They aren't other than size. If they don't fail, it prolongs the inevitable and eventually when the bottom drops out it becomes worse.


Oh yeah, one more thing, since when is it the role of government to keep a privately held, or publicly traded company in business???? It's not!!!