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SEIU vs. the Stupak 12

By W. James Antle, III on 3.16.10 @ 2:40PM

John Fund has an important column in the Wall Street Journal about threats by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to back primary challengers to anti-Obamacare Democrats. At this late a date, past many primary filing deadlines, such threats may be overblown. But it is still a shot across the bow to pro-labor Democrats in blue-collar districts who are standing with Bart Stupak.

That description fits a lot of potential members of the "Stupak 12," including Congressman Stupak himself. Stupak voted with the AFL-CIO 100 percent of the time in 2008 and 98 percent of the time over the course of his legislative career. He voted with AFSCME 100 percent of the time that year and 95 percent of the time throughout his career. Stupak voted with SEIU 100 percent.

The same is true of Dale Kildee, another pro-life Michigan Democrat who has recently threatened to waver on the health care bill's abortion language. He voted with the AFL-CIO 100 percent in 2008 and 96 percent lifetime; AFSCME 100 percent in 2008 and 87 percent lifetime; SEIU 100 percent in 2008. Similar numbers hold for Reps. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.), Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), Charlie Wilson (D-OH), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.), Jason Altmire (D-PA), Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), and Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.).

In some cases, the previously pro-Stupak Democrats have better voting records from a union perspective than a pro-life one. Mary Kaptur (D-OH) has a mixed record on abortion: In 2007-08, she voted with the National Right to Life Committee 57 percent of the time and with NARAL Pro-Choice America 50 percent. Her NARAL ratings have ranged from a high of 100 percent in 2006 to a low of 35 percent in 2004. But she is consistent on labor issues: Kaptur was with the AFL-CIO 100 percent in 2008, 95 percent lifetime; with AFSCME 100 percent 2008, 93 percent lifetime; 100 percent with SEIU.

Baron Hill's (D-Ind.) abortion voting record has also varied, though he voted with NARAL 100 percent of the time in 2007, and his voting record is slightly less pro-labor. But his union ratings -- in the same order as Kaptur, 86 percent, 79 percent, 71 percent, 88 percent, 83 percent -- are higher than any he's received in recent years from a pro-life group. The same is true of Tim Ryan (D-OH), whose National Right to Life Committee score has plummetted from 80 percent in 2005-06 to zero in 2007-08. But Ryan's ratings with the big unions have never dipped below 98 percent.

These voting records aren't determinative, of course, and in some cases it might be too late for union retribution against Democrats who oppose Obamacare on pro-life grounds. But many of the pro-life, economically liberal Democrats inclined to stand with Stupak come from districts where union support is helpful -- and supporting the unions in return is expected.

View all comments (12) | Leave a comment

Gone_Rogue| 3.16.10 @ 6:36PM

Where were Republicans and DINO’s when Bush and the Republicans passed an unfunded deficit bill allowing Medicare to make payments to insurance companies? I opposed it then. The GOP, Tea Parties and Republicans do not tell you, that, this is what the Democrat party and Obama want to cut from Medicare. They use a broad term "cut Medicare". These payments forces the federal government to pay $1.15 to insurance corporate fat cats for every $1.00 spent on medical issues. In simple math, for every $1.00 spends using a government sponsored Medicare payment, the insurance corporations get an additional 15 cents. The idea then, was that having insurance companies provide part of Medicare, rates would go down: THEY HAVE NOT!

The insurance lobby and the Chamber of Commerce got the Republicans to pass this unfunded deficit behemoth with no opposition. I am a Republican who supports healthcare reform. The issue affects me since I am a medical student. The idea that bureaucrats will "take over healthcare" is poppycock. Day to day, I see insurance company bureaucrats deny care to patients, and withholding payments for what the doctor and patient deem necessary for care. These insurance bureaucrats are like customer service representatives who have no background in health policy, yet make decisions that override a Doctor's decision about care that patients' need.

The GOP calls for competition across state lines. I support this to some extent. However, the GOP plan does not create a baseline as to what basic care should be covered under these plans, nor does it provide a baseline for cost. It means that like credit card companies, insurance companies will flock to states that have little or no regulations, states that have the least basic coverage, and states whose costs are at higher premiums to customers. Example: the credit card companies. Credit card companies are primarily based in Delaware and South Dakota because regulations there allow credit card companies to charge exorbitant and creative fees. The same would happen with insurance, except that patients' lives would be at the mercy of these fees from so-called competition across state lines. What the Democrats want, is a baseline set of items that would be covered by these insurance companies?

Real competition should also include allowing foreign corporations to establish cheaper insurance companies here, than the American insurance corporations. As with the autos, technology, motor cycles, steel and textile industries, we would get a higher quality product at cheaper costs. Even it means failure of the American Insurance Companies; I want foreign competition for insurance companies.

Creating High Risk Pools: The GOP likes this idea. How many of you have children? That is considered a pre-existing condition. Yes. The party of "family values" and their insurance lobby considers the act of having children a pre-existing condition. As such, women will be at a disadvantage for higher premiums under the GOP plan. Elderly people would not be able to afford rates if they are placed in a high risk pool, as the GOP plan calls for. How many of you have Grand Parents? It is true that the GOP plan would offer coverage to "everyone in the pool", however, most working Americans would not be able to afford these plans because of the pre-existing loopholes. The plan put forth by my party, the GOP, does not provide limits on costs to American patriots who need insurance most.

Tort Reform: The issue of tort reform is also moot. I see infections due to preventative mistakes by medical professionals. Most inpatient infections are caused by a lack of washing hands by medical staff. Other negligent medical costs come from errors by physicians such as operating on the wrong side or wrong thing. Should innocent patients who seek medical care be denied a financial recourse as the legal system provides?

In Texas and California, which has the most stringent Tort Reform laws (limiting liability to $250, 000 max), so-called [defensive] diagnostic tests have increased, while the number of medical errors continue to increase in both states. Moreover, Texas leads the nation in uninsured working Americans. Recently, I was an unemployed mechanical engineer. Prior to attending medical school, I saw my insurance rates increase from $1200 in 2006 to $3600 in 2010, and I have never filed a medical claim, in my previous job for an oil company. This year Shell Oil will be moving their operations and 13000 American jobs to India and Brazil. The reason issued was the high cost of healthcare benefits to American employees. The issue of tort reform is moot when one looks at the supposed cost savings from these reforms. Both states Texas and California lead the US in uninsured Americans.

The farce of Death Panels: The provision in the bill was placed by a REPUBLICAN Congressman from Georgia at the request of insurance companies and the American Medical Association. End of life consultations are already being performed in hospitals around the US every day, would be paid for under the bill. Currently, these expenses are paid for out of pocket by families since it is not covered. Unless one works in the medical field, or is faced with end of life decisions, it is easy to label these "Life Panels" as death panels. The Healthcare bill in Congress provides payments to medical professionals and their families who receive counseling during the palliative phase of life. Consultation in many cases also means extending life of loved ones. Today we already have [death panels] within the insurance companies via their bureaucrats, many of whom have no background in the medical field, nor social services fields. These Customer Service Representatives and clerical staff at insurance companies make life and death decisions based on costs, and which overrides patients and Doctors' recommended care. These insurance clerks and bureaucrats deny care every day to working families, costing the US 45000 deaths per year.

Obama is right when he links high insurance costs to shrinking jobs. Most major oil companies that once viewed Texas as a bastion of free market enterprise are shifting more workers in expatriate jobs overseas, because of never ending increases in insurance prices per each employee. Why would anyone start businesses here in the US when they can incorporate themselves overseas to avoid paying high insurance costs for employees? As a conservative who with experience on both sides of the issue, I believe that without healthcare reform, the US is doomed to failure when it comes to reestablishing jobs.

Margie| 3.16.10 @ 10:58PM

Great Left-Wing talking points.

SoCon| 3.17.10 @ 12:31AM

"Death Panels" is a metaphor for rationed care, Einstein. It doesn't take a rocket-scientist to understand this, BOZO troll.

As the brilliant and beautiful Sarah Palin avers, "Thanks, but no thanks."

Eric Cartman| 3.17.10 @ 8:40AM

"I'm George Soros, and I approve this message."

Nancy Pelosi| 3.17.10 @ 8:52AM

" I, I, I'm, uh. Nancy Pelosi, and, uh, isn't it wonderful? We ar going to kick the rest of the doors down and pass free food and housing next. We, we , we Democrats will never stop trying to im, im ,improve the lives of the American people. Even if it kills them. Oh! I approve this message!"

Barack Obama| 3.17.10 @ 8:53AM

"Uh, me too!"

Joe Biden| 3.17.10 @ 8:55AM

"Hey, now! Don't forget Ole Joe, here! Heh, heh! It make bankrupt us, but we can just print more money! Heh. heh. What? Oh, okay! Bye!"

Barack Obama| 3.17.10 @ 8:56AM

"Um shut up, Joe"

ggoblue| 3.16.10 @ 6:40PM

the destruction of the union movement by left wing leadership continues....believe me when i tell you, the membership has no idea that they are now in the corner with the baby killers.
honestly it has only dawned on them this very year that their fellow democrats, the enviros, are out to destroy the manufacturing and energy sectors of the economy.
ignorance on a vast scale and misrepresentation by the leadership. the death of labor.

SoCon| 3.17.10 @ 12:32AM

Liberalism is a destroyer, pure and simple. Just look at our inner cities and public schools--what a mess!

Yosemeti Sam| 3.16.10 @ 10:57PM

" ... many of the pro-life, economically liberal Democrats inclined to stand with Stupak come from districts where union support is helpful -- and supporting the unions in return is expected."

There you go: union message: sell your soul - for base political fellowship!