American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
This union speaks for 1.6 million local and state government employees including nurses, corrections offers and sanitation workers.
What They Want
AFSCME's priorities for health care reform are also some of the most fragile parts of proposed legislation: a public option, an employer mandate and federal funding for an expansion of Medicaid.
The public option "is a critical way to make the insurance companies honest and to help bring costs down," said Chuck Loveless, AFSCME's legislative director.
Congressional leadership and President Obama have come under pressure from some Republicans, moderate Democrats and interest groups to forgo a public option in favor of a co-op system or similar alternative. But Loveless said the public option and the employer mandate are necessary to achieve near universal coverage.
The union wants to see an expansion of Medicaid, but it worries that the cost will be pushed onto state governments. To avoid this problem, AFSCME wants reform legislation to provide for federal funding of a Medicaid expansion.
The states are under "severe fiscal distress at the moment," Loveless said. "This can not be laid on the backs of the states."
Deal Breakers
AFSCME opposes the taxation of employer-provided health care benefits. Restructuring the current tax exclusion on health insurance benefits was discussed in the Senate Finance Committee earlier in the summer, but such a provision was not mentioned in Chairman Max Baucus' latest framework for legislation. The bill proposed in the House includes a surtax on the wealthiest Americans, which AFSCME supports, Lovelittle said.
The framework set out by Baucus, D-Mont., does include an excise tax of 35 percent on insurance companies for selling health insurance plans worth over $8,000 for singles and $21,000 for families. AFSCME opposes that tax, along with the framework's lack of a public option. "We have some significant concerns with the Finance Committee bill," Loveless said. "We're working to get changes in that bill."
How Much They've Spent
AFSCME spent about $1.3 million on all lobbying activities in the first six months of 2009, according to lobbying disclosure forms. The union has lobbied on pieces of legislation other than the health care bill this year, like the Employee Free Choice Act, and lobbying spending is not broken down by issue. In the first six months of 2008, AFSCME spent $1.04 million on lobbying activities.
During the 2010 election cycle, the union's PAC and associated individuals have contributed $254,400 to federal candidates and political parties, compared to $2.6 million during the 2008 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Nearly all of those donations have gone to Democrats -- 100 percent this cycle and 99 percent in the 2008 cycle.
AFSCME has spent $2 million on television and radio advertisements promoting health care reform, and they're not done yet. "We plan to devote the resources necessary as this fight moves forward," Loveless said. The union is also a member of two coalitions, Health Care for America Now and Americans United for Change, both of which are spending to promote health care reform.
AFSCME's total revenue for 2007 was $157.6 million, according to IRS forms.
Key Players
Loveless has led a team of five AFSCME lobbyists working on health care reform.
"We've had extensive meetings with members of Congress, both representatives and senators and their staffs, over the course of this year, and we are continuing that," he said. "This is clearly our number one priority and it has been all year."
The union's president, Gerald McEntee, is not a registered lobbyist.
The union has also mobilized its members to fight for reform in their localities by contacting members of Congress and held a canvassing campaign in 14 states this summer.
Vice President Joe Biden spoke at AFSCME's legislative conference in May on various issues, including health care reform.
Links
AFSCME Health Care Page
AFSCME Youtube Videos and Ads
Thursday, September 10, 2009
jacksmith
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith — Working Class
Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/19tHF4
It's not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It's not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It's not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It's not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It's not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don't work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It's not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It's professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time...is...UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op's! No Triggers!
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith — Working Class
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)