Related: The Massachusetts Model: Municipal Health Mess
A Healthy Insult For the American People
Gee, what WONDERFUL PLANS you PAID FOR, taxpayers!
Too bad your "public servants" couldn't give you such a PUBLIC PLAN, huh?
"Health tax may wallop towns; Levies to be steep if high-end plans aren’t scaled back" by Sean P. Murphy, Globe Staff | April 5, 2010
Massachusetts municipalities that offer employees, retirees, and elected officials the most generous and costly health insurance plans will feel the squeeze of the new national health care law’s tax on “Cadillac’’ insurance plans.
A family health plan that costs more than $27,500 would be subject to a 40 percent tax on every dollar spent above that threshold. The tax, set to take effect in 2018, would be levied on insurers, who would probably pass it on to municipalities and other employers.
And just WHO do you think THEY ARE, taxpayers?
A few cities and towns already have family plans that exceed $27,500, and many others are on track to surpass that level before the tax kicks in. That means taxpayers in many communities could be facing thousands of dollars in additional costs for every employee, retired worker, and elected leader they cover, unless those communities move soon to scale back coverage, a change the law is designed to encourage.
But you are going to LOVE the NEW LAW!
I know because Obama, the Democrats, and MSM told me so!
“This could be extremely expensive,’’ said Geoffrey C. Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, a lobbying group for cities and towns that has pushed for an overhaul of the municipal health care system. “In general, municipalities would fall into this tax because health care is very expensive in Massachusetts and the municipal plans are very generous.’’
Yup, the PUBLIC SERVANTS gave themselves GREAT, TAXPAYER-FUNDED PLANS while you got s***, America!!!
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Health care plans offered by cities and towns typically have very low copayments and deductibles but very high premiums. Municipalities pay as much as 85 percent of those premiums.
That means YOU, taxpayer!!
Yup, THAT is why TAXES NEEDED to be RAISED and why SERVICES are being SLASHED!!
Related: The Massachusetts State Budget
Oh, I can see why the state has no taxpayer funds left for you. Look where they are tossing it.
The country’s major unions, including those representing public employees, fought hard to block or weaken the so-called Cadillac tax, saying it would penalize workers who gave up higher wages for richer benefits.
So how come they have lost the "public" part?
F***ing bunch of LOOTERS!
“It was the main issue our national union was concerned about,’’ said Brad Tenney, secretary treasurer of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts. “The concern was that some of our plans that are high value would be hit by this.’’
Tenney said union pressure on Congress produced an exception for law enforcement personnel, including firefighters, because of their dangerous duties....
Yup, everyone got a DEAL except YOU, average American taxpayer with no union and no lobby!
It is supposed to be the REPRESENTATIVE or "public servant" that is looking out for you!
Ginger Esty, chairwoman of the Framingham Board of Selectmen, said firefighters and others must be willing to accept less generous health coverage for the town to avoid significant layoffs.
“The cost of health care already is extremely expensive,’’ she said. “And if we don’t get any relief from the unions, there’s only one thing we can do, and that is lay off workers.’’
You know, after all this, I'm not feeling sorry for them at all.
They haven't given up anything to help the "public" they "serve."
F*** them!
But Pete DeVito, president of the 140-member Framingham Firefighters union, said although he is open to talking with town officials, he would continue to be protective of benefits.
Yeah, thanks for pitching in!
“Everything we got, we got at the bargaining table,’’ DeVito said....
Yeah, don't you just love the idea of GOVERNMENT bargaining with GOVERNMENT?!!
Yup, they have the $tronge$t union$ around!
Yeah, and SOMEHOW contracts are only binding when it comes to "public service" pukes and banksters.
God help you if you are an auto worker or work in a supermarket.
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Also see: Looking For an AmeriKan Lunch for the update on the ongoing strike.
Maybe I'll get back around to it some day soon.
