IAFF Statement on Pending Senate Approval of Health Care Reform Legislation

December 23, 2009 -- The IAFF is disappointed that the U.S. Senate has chosen to pay for reform of the nation’s health care system by taxing people who work for a living by imposing an excise tax on health care plans that cover our members today. The excise tax is a benefit killer that will shift more health care costs onto an estimated 25 million working families in 2019 or force a cut in the benefits those workers receive. In stark contrast to the Senate bill, the House of Representatives has passed legislation reforming the health care system without resorting to taxing the health care benefits received by fire fighters and other working Americans. The IAFF will be working hard over the coming days to ensure that the final bill reflects the House approach to funding health care reform.