Pittsburgh, PA–(ENEWSPF)–December 16, 2009.
USW International President Leo W. Gerard appeared on MSNBC’s Ed Schultz Show last night to discuss health insurance reform. Gerard expressed the frustration he and many working families are feeling about the direction of the debate, particularly in the Senate, where a handful of lawmakers are trying to block meaningful reform.
“I can tell you this point blank: if we don’t get a meaningful health care bill that reduces costs and has everybody in and doesn’t have an excise tax, have a pay or play for employers, have a public option or Medicare buy-in, we’re not going to campaign for any Democrat who voted against this, and we’re going to try to defeat them,” Gerard said.
The leader of the union that represents 1.2 million active and retired members said the union’s activists would continue to push for the House version of health insurance reform, which excludes a devastating excise tax on workers’ benefits and includes a public option that would ensure coverage for millions of Americans.
“We need to fight for what’s right for the country and by fighting for what’s right for the country, we’ll do what’s right for people,” Gerard said. “I’m angry as hell.”
Source: usw.org
