Sen. Reid faces more pressure from unions on healthcare reform

[Omaha Steve]

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/69671-reid-faces-more-pressure-from-unions-on-healthcare-reform

By Kevin Bogardus - 11/30/09 06:00 AM ET

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will face more pressure from the left on his healthcare reform bill as unions still have a number of grievances with the legislation.

Reid has struggled to keep the more centrist members of the Democratic caucus in line during the healthcare debate. But the Senate leader will also have to improve the reform package in order to meet the specifications of the labor movement, a key Democratic constituency.

According to union officials, the bill’s employer mandate needs to be expanded to include all employers. Further, they are lobbying for the elimination of an excise tax on high-cost insurance plans, known as “Cadillac” plans. Finally, labor’s support of a robust government-run insurance plan, the “public option,” puts the Senate leader in tough spot considering centrist senators either want to jettison the plan or find a weaker compromise before voting for the bill.

Reid also faces a tough reelection campaign next year and Las Vegas is home to many union workers.

Unions are happier with the House version of healthcare reform, which has no excise tax and a stronger public option. While planning to lobby for amendments to make the Senate legislation better, several union officials said they will wait to the conference between the two chambers to push for the biggest legislative changes.

“We think the House bill is much stronger and supports our goals much more than the Senate version,” said Louise Novotny, director of research for Communication Workers of America. “It would have responsibility for all employers and require the wealthy to pay their fair share too.”

FULL story at link.