UE Political Action Updates

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If Democrats Will Not Use Their Congressional Majority, Can Working People Borrow It?

February 2, 2010
Washington

As the situation facing working people continues to worsen across the board, Congress has returned to Washington to take up business for the coming year. The battle lines are clearly drawn; the Democratic Party majority remains disunited, paralyzed, and unfocused, while the Republican Congressional minority is absolute in its opposition to every single legislative initiative launched by Democrats. The only people unaware of this situation appear to be large numbers of Democrat lawmakers.

Taxing Our Health Benefits: A Bad Idea We Have Defeated Before

January 6, 2010

Washington

The Congressional healthcare legislative process has come down to a few remaining and highly controversial issues. Lawmakers are returning to Washington to commence an effort to combine the separate House of Representatives and Senate health care reform bills. If the two bills can be merged – and then sent back to be passed one last time by each body – only then will the reform legislation go to President Obama for his signature.

Health Reform Update: Kill the Tax on Benefits ASAP

December 9, 2009
Washington

Among the details of the evolving Senate health bill are a number of troubling provisions, and at the top of the list is the disgraceful inclusion -- up until now -- of a new tax on the value of health insurance provided by the employer.  This would compel employers to add an amount of money -- over some set point -- to an employees annual gross income statement as if the value of health insurance was the same as wages or salary earned through the year. For the majority of workers, if the value of your health insurance exceeds $21,000 for family or $8,000 fo

Part Two - The Struggle for Healthcare Reform: A Page from UE History

December 1, 2009
Washington, DC

If the current Congressional healthcare reform process results in passage of a final bill which is signed into law by President Obama, this will translate into the biggest change to our health care and health insurance system in our lifetimes. As working people and union members we will have questions about what is in the final bill, what is not in the final bill, and just how the legislation will work. Hard answers will be needed, not predictions or promises.

The Struggle for Healthcare Reform: A Page from UE History

November 22, 2009
Washington
The struggle for healthcare reform has reached a new stage, with the House of Representatives having passed a healthcare reform bill and the Senate having voted to proceed to work on the newly-combined bill in the coming weeks. After analyzing the details of each plan, it is clear that neither of them is yet satisfactory, despite some meritorious aspects. Neither plan adequately protects working people from employers who would use the legislation to cancel existing healthcare coverage and thereby compel workers to buy their own insurance.

UE Convention Calls for Independent Political Action, More Forceful Leadership by Obama and Democrats

October 20, 2009
New Haven, CT

Delegates to UE's 71st Convention in September discussed and approved a resolution entitled, “Independent Rank-and-File Political Action.” The resolution praised last year’s popular upsurge that ended Republican rule and elected Barack Obama, but urged President Obama to fight more forcefully for real healthcare reform and labor law reform, and to stand up against the obstructionist tactics of both Republicans and pro-corporate “Blue Dog” Democrats. It also called for continued and increased mobilization of UE members to fight for the legislative changes we need.

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