The New York Times reports that support for the Cadillac tax is losing support among labor leaders, “who say the proposal is too high a price to pay for the limited health care package” they expect will come out of new negotiations.
“I do not believe there will be an excise tax enacted,” said Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America. “It appears that the administration and Congress will be taking a much more modest approach to health care reform. The cost and value of such reform would not justify using an excise tax.”
Sen. Kent Conrad (D., N.D.) called the prognosis for the excise tax “very cloudy,” while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif) said there was “very little support” for it among the House Democratic Caucus.