APWU Seeks Quick Action on Healthcare Measure

APWU President William Burrus is asking union members to encourage their legislators to support healthcare reform bills adopted by key House and Senate committees July 14 and 15. Burrus joined a chorus of labor and consumer voices favoring the bills, which would expand coverage to 97 percent of Americans and create a strong public health insurance option.

“Every American needs affordable healthcare, and every American should have it,” Burrus said.

“These bills meet our basic requirements for healthcare reform,” he said. “They have a strong public health insurance plan option; require employers to pay their fair share, and don’t tax health care benefits.

After three House committees approved “American’s Affordable Health Choices Act” on July 14, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee sent to the full Senate the “Quality, Affordable Health Coverage for All Americans” on July 15. The bills would create a government program that would compete with private insurance companies; would require all Americans to carry health insurance, and would provide generous discounts to many who are unable to afford conventional plans.

In a statement, President Obama said that the proposal would “bring down costs, expand coverage, and increase choice.” The committee votes should provide the urgency for both chambers to finish work on healthcare reform before the early August recess, he said.

“The reform measure clearly meets the president’s standards for comprehensive, progressive legislation,” Burrus said.

“Our members enjoy great healthcare coverage,” he said, “but the ever-increasing cost of insurance is a drain on the economy. Healthcare coverage is a significant issue at all contract negotiations – including ours. Bringing down the cost will have a positive effect on all working people.”

The plan would impose a surtax on income above $350,000 per year to help defray the costs. “We are mindful,” Burrus cautioned, “that raising taxes on the rich to fund any bill faces tough opposition from the Chamber of Commerce and other business interests.”

The APWU president and other labor leaders are asking union members to urge their legislators to back the bills before Congress adjourns for its August recess.

See below for information from the AFL-CIO on the healthcare reform bills..

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