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Greetings, AFSCME LEGISLATIVE REPORT October 16, 2009 In this issue: v
Senate Finance Committee Approves
Health Care Bill v Insurance Industry Declares War on Health Reform; AFSCME Plans National Day of Action for Reform v
Federal Employee Hearing
Held v
House Panel Approves Chemical and
Water Safety Bills
Senate Finance Committee Approves Health Care Bill The Senate Finance Committee approved a flawed health care reform bill on Tuesday by a vote of 14 to 9. Each of the 13 Democrats approved the bill, but many made clear that they would seek improvements as the legislation moves forward. One Republican, Senator Olympia Snowe (ME), also voted for the bill.
Now, the Finance bill and the bill approved in July by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee must be merged before going to the Senate floor. Those negotiations have begun in earnest. The central points of contention are: the Finance Committee's tax on health care plans; whether employers will be required to provide coverage to their workers; whether the bill will include a public health insurance option; and whether coverage will be affordable for those who get it through their employer or through the exchange. During a caucus of all Senate Democrats on Thursday, there was a spirited debate over the legislation with many Senators criticizing the Senate Finance Committee bill.
The Senate leadership hopes to finalize a bill next week in order to get it to the floor by the last week of October. It is not clear whether this deadline will be met.
In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has indicated that she would like to finalize the House bill by next week. It appears that the House will debate its bill the first week of November. The House bill will: not tax health care plans; include a public health insurance option; impose a requirement on employers to provide coverage or pay into a fund so that low-and moderate-income workers can get subsidies to purchase coverage; and make coverage more affordable than do the Senate bills. (Barbara Coufal- bcoufal@afscme.org)
Insurance Industry Declares War on Health Reform; AFSCME Plans National Day of Action for Reform This week, the insurance lobby,
AFSCME is leading an effort with other unions and with partners in Health Care for America Now to hold a national day of action on Tuesday, October 20. AFSCME affiliates are organizing dozens of events around the country to tell members of Congress that now is the time to deliver on health care reform that meets the needs of working families.
As part of the national day of action, AFSCME and our partners have set a goal of generating 100,000 telephone calls. Your help is needed to achieve this goal! (Barbara Coufal- bcoufal@afscme.org)
JOIN THE
NATIONAL CALL-IN CALL YOUR
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE ON OCTOBER
20! Call toll-free at 202-224-3121 on Tuesday, October
20. Urge your
Senators and your Representative to deliver a health care reform
bill that:
Federal Employee Hearings Held A Senate hearing was held to investigate the shocking rate increase federal employees are facing for long-term care plans. Many AFSCME federal employees purchased long term care policies years ago with the belief that they would pay more in the beginning to lock-in a premium rate and level of benefits that would remain constant throughout the life of their plan. Unfortunately, misleading sales material failed to mention the plans would be renegotiated and the premium rates and benefit levels thought to be locked-in would be subject to reevaluation. Senators, one of whom purchased a plan, and witnesses expressed outrage and asked the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to work with the long-term care insurance providers to resolve the problem in an equitable manner.
An additional hearing was held regarding the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 (S. 1102/H.R. 2517). The bill would provide federal employees who have same-sex domestic partners the same employment benefits that are available to married federal employees and their spouses. The Director of OPM and senators on the committee shared AFSCME's support for the bill. Overall, the hearing highlighted how offering domestic partnership benefits could help the federal government attract new talent and retain existing employees. (Andrea Zuniga DiBitetto- adibitetto@afscme.org) House Panel Approves Chemical and Water Safety Bills Two bills aimed at making chemical facilities and public water systems safer were approved by a House subcommittee on October 14. A chemical plant safety bill (H.R. 2868) would require the use of safer technologies in chemical facilities, particularly to prevent terrorist attacks. This measure was approved by a vote of 18-10 after the subcommittee rejected eight Republican amendments that would have weakened the bill. A water security bill (H.R. 3258) would increase security and promote safer technologies at public water systems. It provides $315 million for fiscal year 2010 to help public water systems develop and implement anti-terrorism security plans, and allows public water system employees a voice in creating safety standards. The bill was approved by voice vote. (Cynthia Bradley- cbradley@afscme.org)
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