Official Statement of Robert J. Haynes, President, Massachusetts AFL-CIO on Employers and Insurers Balking at Funding Commonwealth’s Health Care Reform Efforts

 

Malden, MA , ISSUED JULY 25, 2008….. The following is the official statement of Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Robert J. Haynes in response to the opposition from the state’s employers and insurance companies to contributing a fair share of the funding for the state’s health care plan:

 

“It is absolutely deplorable that the major employers and insurers in Massachusetts are still refusing to help fund the state’s historic health care plan. Sadly, it’s as predictable as it is deplorable. When health care reform was first up for debate we advocated and fought hard for a fair distribution of responsibility between employers, individuals and families, and our government. Employers refused to relent, insisting on being left out of the three-legged stool of health care funding, and causing the whole system to be out of balance and likely to fall. The original compromise overwhelmingly and disproportionately burdened our government and working families, and let employers off with ‘responsibility lite.’ It was the epitome of the age-old notion that ‘I’ll compromise with you, so long as you give me everything I want.’ So far individuals, families, and the government have stepped up to bear the brunt of costs. As far as health care reform costs have gone, while we have bought the meal, the employers have gotten away with putting a few coins in the tip cup at the register. This behavior needs to stop.

 

“Once the health care reform bill was passed, everyone knew there were going to be major gaps in funding unless employers contributed their fair share. Now that Governor Patrick is calling on businesses and insurers to increase their contributions they have the audacity to threaten withdrawing their ‘support’ for health care reform. For employers to throw a typical tantrum and threaten to jeopardize health care reform in Massachusetts is an insult to the very essence of our Commonwealth. It is especially insulting since they knew that their refusal to agree to a fair share from day one would inevitably cause this funding shortfall.

 

“Everyone knows that true health care reform will require a national solution, and that is a crucial issue in our national elections this year. Until we elect the right leaders to deal with what is ultimately a problem for the entire country to fix, we have to get by with making our health care reform effort in Massachusetts succeed. Businesses want to get away with merely having a superficial role in funding health care reform. That is just not sustainable nor is it fair to the people of Massachusetts . No more excuses. Enough is enough. It is time employers stepped up to the plate like the rest of us have. They need to stop acting like the victims and start acting like citizens and partners in the very society from which they reap all their profits and success.”

 

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