February 25, 2008

Health Care For All—
Starting With Iowa’s Children

Last week, legislators introduced a proposal that could make Iowa the first state in the nation to guarantee that all children have health insurance.  The legislation comes as a result of deliberations of the Legislative Commission on Affordable Health Care Plans for Small Businesses and Families that has worked over the past eight months to develop recommendations.

Currently 44,000 Iowa kids are without health insurance.  Under the new legislation, 25,000 of them would be covered through hawk-i, Medicaid, and other state-funded initiatives.  The remaining 19,000 would be covered by private insurance plans.  A state subsidy based on a sliding scale would ensure that all families could afford to buy health insurance for their children.

It makes sense to cover children first.   They are the least expensive group to cover, and healthier children will most likely become healthier adults. 

One of the more controversial aspects of the proposal is a mandate that everyone buy health insurance.  Compelling people to buy insurance is not an easy sell.  Big insurers and HMOs have a well-deserved bad reputation for heartless denials of care.  That's how they make money.  And, as Massachusetts has learned, it’s not feasible or reasonable to mandate insurance unless it is affordable for everyone. The catch is that subsidies to make the plans affordable cost money, and unless costs are controlled, the subsidies quickly become unaffordable.

Other aspects of the proposal, such as setting up a system of electronic medical records and establishing medical homes have broader support. 

Governor Culver has also presented his health care proposal.  It establishes a foundation on which to build a better health care system by providing for electronic medical records, allowing an income tax check-off to fund community

wellness programs, eliminating pre-existing conditions when moving from one plan to another, and continuing coverage for dependent children through age 25. 

One of the more controversial aspects of the proposal is a mandate that everyone buy health insurance.  Compelling people to buy insurance is not an easy sell.  Big insurers and HMOs have a well-deserved bad reputation for heartless denials of care.  That's how they make money.  And, as Massachusetts has learned, it’s not feasible or reasonable to mandate insurance unless it is affordable for everyone. The catch is that subsidies to make the plans affordable cost money, and unless costs are controlled, the subsidies quickly become unaffordable.

Other aspects of the proposal, such as setting up a system of electronic medical records and establishing medical homes have broader support. 

Governor Culver has also presented his health care proposal.  It establishes a foundation on which to build a better health care system by providing for electronic medical records, allowing an income tax check-off to fund community wellness programs, eliminating pre-existing conditions when moving from one plan to another, and continuing coverage for dependent children through age 25. 

The Governor’s recommendations are proposals intended to be accomplished this year.  The Commission’s recommendations were meant to be accomplished over a period of years as the recommended measures  became affordable.

The IFL is supportive of the Governor’s proposals as well as many of the Commission’s recommendations.  However the real solution to our health care crisis is a national “Medicare for All” system.

One More of Ten…
Good Reasons to Support Prevailing Wage Legislation

Think about it: the current system eliminates the best, not the worst of contractors. Prevailing wage, despite what the opposition tells you, would in fact work to weed out the worst of the contractors.

Which system is better for Iowa?
 

Bills

to

Watch

HF 2212 SMOKE FREE WORKPLACE ACT   Prohibits smoking in public places and places of employment, or within 50 feet of such places, except for casinos and racetracks, certain private clubs that have no employees, tobacco outlets, some hotel and motel rooms if the smoking rooms are contiguous and on the same floor, and several other exceptions; establishes civil penalties of $50 for violations and a schedule of escalating penalties for businesses that allow smoking.  IFL is monitoring

HF 2234 WORKERS’ COMP SETTLEMENTS   Continues the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner’s jurisdiction over settlements that include an agreement for continued medical benefits during the time covered by the agreement.  IFL supports

HF 2238 CONTINUING HEALTH INSURANCE   Allows the spouse of a public employee who retired before the age of 65 and who continued to participate in a group health benefits contract to continue to participate in the contract until the spouse is 65.  IFL supports

HF 2252 OPTICAL SCAN VOTING SYSTEMS   Requires the use of optical scan voting systems in every county and appropriates money for the purpose of reimbursing the cost of purchasing optical scan voting systems.  IFL supports

HF 2262 SALES TAX EXEMPTION DISTRICTS   Permits cities to designate sales tax refund districts within their downtown areas where newly located retail businesses would be allowed to provide refunds, i.e., sales tax exemptions, of state sales tax.  IFL opposes

HSB 653 OUT OF STATE INJURIES   Allows an employee to make a claim for injury suffered while working out of state if the employer has a place of business in the state, or the employee is working under a contract for hire made in Iowa and the state or country where the injury occurred has no available workers’ comp for such an injury, or the employer has a place of business in Iowa and the work for hire contract states

that claims will be governed by Iowa law; also allows a workers’ comp claim to be reopened due to a factor that existed at the time of the claim, unless that factor was considered and reflected in the award.  IFL supports

HSB 657 CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS   Specifies what contracting jobs are prohibited.  Requires the name of the person administering a promotion or appointment exam to be posted prior to the exam; requires that a fire chief make recommendations to the civil service commission on jobs and promotions, rather than make those appointments, and explain a recommendation for a person not on the top of the qualified candidate list.  IFL supports

HSB 658 WORKERS’ COMP PAYMENTS   Requires an employer or insurance company paying workers’ comp benefits to file notice with the Workers’ Comp Commissioner and makes the payor liable for additional benefits if the payments are terminated without reasonable or probable cause.  IFL supports

HSB 672 WORKERS’ COMP CALCULATIONS   Requires the calculation of workers’ comp benefits to include overtime, shift differential and premium pay.  IFL supports

HSB 673 WORKERS’ COMP COST OF LIVING   Requires an annual cost-of-living increase for workers’ comp payments for permanent disabilities.  IFL supports

SF 2160 UNEMPLOYMENT CHARGES   Does not allow an employer who wins a benefits appeal to collect charges for benefits already paid if the employer failed to participate in the initial fact finding, except if the employee received the benefit through fraud or misrepresentation.  IFL supports

SF 2170 SCHOOL BUILDING EFFICIENCY   Allows schools to enter into energy efficiency contracts.  IFL supports

Vote by Mail in Iowa?

Fair Share Facts:
Make Sure your Members Know Them

The Governor and some state legislators are interested in exploring a vote-by-mail option for Iowa.

A group of county auditors recently visited Oregon and Washington states to observe the system in action and learn exactly how elections are conducted by mail.  The auditors recently reported to a House sub-committee on their findings.  In both states, they reported, the system evolved over years, as it was adopted county by county.  The states  have seen reductions in cost and increases in voter participation.  The IFL supports exploration of a vote-by-mail system.

There’s a lot of baloney out there about Fair Share legislation.  Here’s some of it—and the facts to fight back with.

Myth:  This legislation repeals Iowa’s so-called “Right to Work” law.

 Truth:  The RTW law is not repealed.  Period.  The proposal would only amend the law to allow labor and management to negotiate a clause in their contract to provide that anyone covered by it will be expected either to join the union or pay a “fair share” of the expenses a local union incurs in negotiating and administering the contract.   

McCain Watch:  

Senator John McCain on Trade

Just this month, the extreme right-wing CATO Institute named John McCain as one of the 5  “most consistent” free traders in the Senate.  (http://www.freetrade.org/congress) 

In a 2007 campaign appearance in Miami's Little Havana, McCain said that as president he would work on efforts to spread free trade. (Associated Press, 3/21/07)

McCain voted against a 2001 Senate bill that would have prevented unsafe Mexican trucks from operating in the US beyond the current limited border zone.

Also in 2001, McCain voiced concern that Congress was showing "hostility" toward corporate-driven trade.  In a statement on the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement, McCain said:

"Indeed, it has seemed as though free trade is no longer a priority of this body.” (McCain press release, 9/24/01) 

McCain’s record on Trade. 
He voted for:

¨ 1993  The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

¨ 2000  Permanent normal trade relations with China

¨ 2003  South Africa Free Trade Act

¨ 2003  U.S.-Chile Trade Act

¨ 2003  U.S.-Singapore Trade Act

¨ 2004  U.S.-Australian Trade Act

¨ 2005 The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)

¨ 2006  Permanent normal  trade relations with Vietnam

¨ 2006 The Oman Free Trade Act

Alliance for Retired Americans: Bush Budget Harms Seniors

Thanks to ARA Executive Vice President  Judy Cato for drawing attention to how the President’s cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will compound the problems facing seniors and millions of other Americans struggling to deal with rising health care costs. For starters, the President’s Medicare budget includes cuts of $556 billion over ten years, as well as an expansion of means-testing.  

President Bush wants to means-test the Part D prescription drug program the

same way that Part B is means-tested.  Means testing undermines the social insurance nature of the Medicare program, raising costs for seniors who are dependent on it.  (2/12/08)

Over time, that would lead to more retired trade unionists paying higher premiums.

Bad for our budgets! 

Labor Center

in cooperation with the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO,  presents:
2007-08 Courses for Union Members

Don’t miss this 4-Part Series on Workplace Rights

Each program will include discussion of:

¨ Understanding workers’ rights under the law

¨ How legal rights interact with collective bargaining and contract provisions

¨ Union strategies for protecting rights at work

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

C.O.P.E. Convention

April 12

Iowa Federation of Labor,  AFL-CIO

Lobbyist Meetings

10:00 Monday Mornings

2000 Walker Street

Des Moines, Iowa

You are cordially invited to attend a retirement dinner being held in honor of Mark Smith, who has retired after serving over 28 years as a full-time officer of the Iowa Federation of Labor,  AFL-CIO, including over 10 years as President.

Mark has been a dedicated and principled labor leader who has made an indelible mark on Iowa’s labor movement.   Tom Vilsack, former Governor of Iowa, will be among the featured speakers.   Please use the form on the right to let us know that you will be attending the retirement dinner on March 29, 2008.

 IOWA FEDERATION OF LABOR, AFL-CIO

 Cordially invites you to attend a Retirement Celebration for

 MARK L. SMITH

 Saturday, March 29, 2008

$50 per person

 Cash Bar 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Dinner 7:00 p.m.

Ticket includes dinner and donation towards retirement gift.

MARK L. SMITH

 RETIREMENT

Names of those who will be attending:

____________________

 ____________________

 ____________________

____________________

Meal Choice: 

(Please indicate quantity of each)

 ______Chicken Cordon Bleu

 ______Roast Pork Loin

 $50 per person
Return this form with check made payable to: 
SMITH RETIREMENT

 In the event you will be unable to attend this function, please feel free to send a message to Mark at the address below.

 Mail to: