House GOP joins effort to block ObamaCare fix for labor

The legislation is an attempt to head off any possible effort by the administration to subsidize the health plans of union members. Under current law, health plans at for-profit entities are eligible for subsidies, but union members’ health plans are not.

{mosads}That is one of the reasons unions have been grumbling about the need to tweak the law in their favor. This week, the AFL-CIO approved a resolution calling for changes to the law, a vote that was preceded by an attempt by the Obama administration to quietly urge the group not to come out against the law.

Black’s bill would prevent anyone who gets insurance coverage as part of a collective bargaining agreement from receiving health insurance subsidies under ObamaCare.

Her bill is the House companion to legislation that Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced earlier in the week. When he introduced his proposal, Thune said the bill is designed to ensure that unions can’t be granted a “backroom deal” to spare them the effects of the law that Democrats supported, and Republicans opposed.

Co-sponsors of Black’s bill are Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.).

The bill is the latest legislative product from Republicans in the few short weeks left before the ObamaCare health insurance exchanges are scheduled to open on Oct. 1. Just this week, the House passed legislation from Black aimed at blocking subsidies for people to buy health insurance under these exchanges until a better eligibility system is established.