Menendez against Baucus Health Care Tax

by: Hopeful

Thu Sep 17, 2009 at 08:58:03 PM EDT

The sixth item is one that Senator Bob Menendez just came out against, as he told reporters coming out of the committee room this afternoon: John Kerry's idea to tax high end, so-called Cadillac health insurance plans. The unions hate this (see AFL CIO and Afscme's comments here) and, as Menendez pointed out, in many states where the cost of living is high - like in New Jersey - teachers and first responders are often lured to lower-wage jobs by offers of high end plans. This is such a big deal to him that it actually overshadows his concerns about the immigration provisions.

The excise tax remains one of several stick points with progressives - the most important of which is still affordability -- also a deal breaker for Menendez who is working on several amendments (which are due tomorrow, by the way).

As for me, there are other provisions that are even worse, but I'm sick of New Jersey getting so little back for our federal taxes. Maybe we could fund health care reform by taxing land area. That would get the red states for a change. Just kidding, my Montana friends, just kidding.