CWA Reviews Health Care Amidst Uncertainty

Reps. Joe Courtney, D-CT, and Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, stood for us and fought the Senate proposal to tax our workers’ health care benefits. Courtney helped publicize a series of CWA reports on the excise tax and Schakowsky circulated a “Dear Member” letter to House members, warning of the tax’s discriminatory impact on women.

The election of Republican Scott Brown in yesterday's Massachusetts Senate special election to fill Ted Kennedy's seat has thrown final passage of any health care legislation into some doubt, as the election leaves Democrats one vote short of overcoming a Republican filibuster. Over the next several days, CWA will continue to work with our coalition partners, other labor unions, and our friends in the House of Representatives to determine the best path for moving forward on any legislation. CWA remains opposed to the Senate bill as it currently stands and will continue the work we have been engaged in over the past several weeks to ensure that any legislation addresses our members concerns. Until we determine the best course of action, our many grassroots programs around the issue have been put on hold. 

CWA President Larry Cohen and Executive Vice President Annie Hill are discussing the available strategic options with the Congressional leaders who have championed our issues. Any new proposal or strategy will be evaluated carefully to ensure our members' interests are best served.

Visit healthcarevoices.org for further updates.