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We hoped it wasn't true. We hoped that when Richard Trumka committed to back a public option and threatened to withhold support from Democrats who wouldn't vote for one that it wasn't just pre-convention rhetoric.
But then the big guns came out -- Baucus decided that rather than
taxing the rich, he would tax the health care plans that seriously
affected AFL-CIO workers who had given up wage hikes in exchange for
comprehensive health care coverage over years in contract
negotiations. When Gerry McEntee rightly called the Baucus bill
"bullshit" from the floor of the convention, Nancy Pelosi was then dispatched to say they were considering the same thing in the House.
I defy anyone to find me one single example of the White House
twisting one arm for a public option. Just one. But when Rahm and
Trumka meet today, it will be after a month of very serious threats to
the AFL-CIO carried out at the highest levels. It's the kind of "arm
twisting" that only the executive branch is capable of, and it has been
done to crush support for a public option, not opposition.
I wrote recently about the fact that people within the AFL-CIO were
getting tremendous pressure from the White House to push Trumka into
backing down. And sources familiar with the situation say that since
the other unions outside the AFL have already caved and are kicking
Rahm's trigger football, Trumka feels he has little support for his
position and no choice but to relent.
Contact the AFL-CIO and let them know that you support Richard
Trumka and his commitment to the public option. Let him know that
staying true to that commitment is extremely important to those of us
who strongly support labor.
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
We hoped it wasn't true. We hoped that when Richard Trumka committed to back a public option and threatened to withhold support from Democrats who wouldn't vote for one that it wasn't just pre-convention rhetoric.
But then the big guns came out -- Baucus decided that rather than
taxing the rich, he would tax the health care plans that seriously
affected AFL-CIO workers who had given up wage hikes in exchange for
comprehensive health care coverage over years in contract
negotiations. When Gerry McEntee rightly called the Baucus bill
"bullshit" from the floor of the convention, Nancy Pelosi was then dispatched to say they were considering the same thing in the House.
I defy anyone to find me one single example of the White House
twisting one arm for a public option. Just one. But when Rahm and
Trumka meet today, it will be after a month of very serious threats to
the AFL-CIO carried out at the highest levels. It's the kind of "arm
twisting" that only the executive branch is capable of, and it has been
done to crush support for a public option, not opposition.
I wrote recently about the fact that people within the AFL-CIO were
getting tremendous pressure from the White House to push Trumka into
backing down. And sources familiar with the situation say that since
the other unions outside the AFL have already caved and are kicking
Rahm's trigger football, Trumka feels he has little support for his
position and no choice but to relent.
Contact the AFL-CIO and let them know that you support Richard
Trumka and his commitment to the public option. Let him know that
staying true to that commitment is extremely important to those of us
who strongly support labor.
We hoped it wasn't true. We hoped that when Richard Trumka committed to back a public option and threatened to withhold support from Democrats who wouldn't vote for one that it wasn't just pre-convention rhetoric.
But then the big guns came out -- Baucus decided that rather than
taxing the rich, he would tax the health care plans that seriously
affected AFL-CIO workers who had given up wage hikes in exchange for
comprehensive health care coverage over years in contract
negotiations. When Gerry McEntee rightly called the Baucus bill
"bullshit" from the floor of the convention, Nancy Pelosi was then dispatched to say they were considering the same thing in the House.
I defy anyone to find me one single example of the White House
twisting one arm for a public option. Just one. But when Rahm and
Trumka meet today, it will be after a month of very serious threats to
the AFL-CIO carried out at the highest levels. It's the kind of "arm
twisting" that only the executive branch is capable of, and it has been
done to crush support for a public option, not opposition.
I wrote recently about the fact that people within the AFL-CIO were
getting tremendous pressure from the White House to push Trumka into
backing down. And sources familiar with the situation say that since
the other unions outside the AFL have already caved and are kicking
Rahm's trigger football, Trumka feels he has little support for his
position and no choice but to relent.
Contact the AFL-CIO and let them know that you support Richard
Trumka and his commitment to the public option. Let him know that
staying true to that commitment is extremely important to those of us
who strongly support labor.