Aside from bigger deficits and lower taxes on the wealthy, there’s one more linchpin of the McCain agenda that would absolutely raise taxes on millions of working people — if we let him get his way.

You see, lost in all the pretty words of McCain’s so-called “straight talk” on healthcare reform, is the simple fact that he plans to count employer-based healthcare coverage as taxable income. That means that people like me (and you, if you work for any company that offers health benefits) will suddenly be paying taxes on thousands of dollars more a year in “income” – despite that fact our actual salary won’t have increased. Matthew Yglesias writes about what he calls “McCain’s Health Care Tax Hike”:

…at the moment, compensation you receive from your employer in the form of money is subject to income tax, but compensation you receive from your employer in the form of employer contributions to health insurance premiums is not taxed. McCain proposes to change this and start subjecting those benefits to taxation. Some people, obviously, don’t have employer provided health insurance in which case this won’t make any difference to them. But for those of us who do get insurance through work, this is a very big increase.

A big increase indeed. Of course, those who admit to this policy and actually defend it will argue that the end result is to help with tax credits for uninsured Americans. But their mission is going to be financed by the increase on Americans who get their health insurance through work – which is fine by the McCain camp, because they admittedly want to discourage employer-based health coverage, as per USA Today:

McCain’s plan aims at eliminating “the bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance” by offering tax credits for individual plans, according to his campaign website. The credits would be $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families. Those amounts would be subtracted from the final tax bill. Families, the campaign says, should be able to buy nationwide policies that can move from state to state.

And while the idea of trying to help the uninsured afford coverage is a nice idea, this one does little to curb the rising cost of healthcare. Additionally, it doesn’t come close to matching the financial expense of purchasing independent coverage. Again, from USA Today:

Such write-offs have limited value because average family health care plans cost about $12,000 a year, says Ken Thorpe, a health policy professor at Emory University in Atlanta. Also, many insurers won’t accept individuals with pre-existing medical problems, he says.

There’s already too much information flowing from the McCain campaign that goes unchallenged. Too many lies and threads of misinformation. Too many things that get ignored while we get distracted by the Sarah Palin circus. And that’s dangerous, because by not paying attention we as working people get screwed by politicians with plans to turn our lives upside-down.

So if you think John McCain is the guy who will cut your taxes, you need to pay more attention to what’s really happening.

And I honestly hope you will.

• AFL-CIO: McCain’s Health Care Proposal Will Increase Costs and Reduce Benefits [PDF]
• Center for American Progress: John McCain’s Radical Prescription
  for Health Care [PDF]

UPDATE 9/11/08: Jason Lefkowitz at CtW Connect has a little more to add to the issue in one of today’s posts.

If you’re still one of those who think a McCain presidency would be better than the Bush presidency has been, you might need to check out Worse than Bush. It’s a website put up by the Change to Win Coalition to help educate those who somehow see John McCain as a less harmful to the American Dream than George W. Bush.

The site is full of informative features, such as “Ask McCain” which showcases videos (like the one above) of working people posing questions and concerns we’d all like to see McCain answer. It also features a page with quotes that (believe it or not) emanated from the lips of John McCain or his trusted advisers. There’s more. To find out how much more, click here to check out WorsethanBush.org for yourself.

Downtime has been minimal, but there have been a few bugs to work out, and certain areas of the site will be continually tweaked over the next couple weeks until everything’s running smoothly again.

One thing that would help greatly in that process would be if regular site visitors would use the contact form to report any problems that may have sprung up as a result of the upgrade. I’m bound to miss a few bugs here and there, so any feedback you could offer about your experiences on the site would be greatly appreciated.

Just click here to report problems or offer suggestions.

Thanks, and have a great holiday season and new year!

President:

Bonaduce, 780
Keller, 717
Capper, 125
Lonchar, 64

Vice-president:

Gaines, 704
Davido, 679
Nagle, 144
Pacula, 99
Brady, 65

Condron, 777
Yost, 717
Ramsey, 133

Recording Secretary:

Monagle, 834
O’Donnell, 781

Trustee:

Gallagher, 793
Mitchell, 792
O’Brien, 758
Gentile, 751
Brown, 735
Sharkey, 719
Duffy, 256

According to IBT Election Supervisor Peter Marks, ballots will be mailed on October 4 and are due back in no later than the morning of October 25, 2007. Please make sure the Union Hall has your correct address and please remember to cast your ballot in this year’s officer election. If you don’t receive a ballot by the second week in October, contact the Union Hall to make sure you get one in time to have your vote counted (and your voice heard).

The candidates for this year’s Local 384 officer election are below (grouped by office, in alphabetical order):

President:
Mike Bonaduce
Mark Capper
Robert Keller
Gene Lonchar

Vice-president:
Tom Brady
Steve Davido
Bobby Gaines
Tom Nagle
Bill Pacula

Secretary-Treasurer:
Matt Condron
Alan Lapenberg*
Rob Ramsey
John Yost

Recording Secretary:
Jim Monagle
Chris O’Donnell

Trustees (3 will win):
Duane Brown
Kathy Duffy
Steve Gallagher
Tony Gentile
Brian Mitchell
Ray O’Brien
Steve Sharkey

*Unsure of the spelling of this candidate’s name.

More updates to follow…

There will be more news here after the nominations are made.

Right now, there is a member of our local union who needs our strength. (The following is from a flier advertising the upcoming 50/50 drawing to benefit Pete Schultz – please help if you can):

Benefit For A Friend
Pete Schultz, 11 Year Member of
Teamsters 384 And Roadway Driver
50/50

Tickets:
$5 A Ticket, 3 For $10
Drawing will be held End of August

Last month, Pete Schultz was stricken by
something that has affected his eyesight. At this
time, the doctors have no idea what is causing
this problem, and have been unable to resolve
this issue. This situation leaves Pete with
children in H.S., and no income at this time.
Thank You for Supporting a Fellow Teamster in
His Time of Need!

To purchase tickets:

Send a legible note with your name and phone
number, and a Check Payable to William Coyle
at:

William Coyle/4PS
4275 County Line Rd 127
Chalfont, PA 18914

You can receive your tickets in one of two ways:

1. Along with the check, send a self addressed
stamped envelope in order to mail your tickets
back to you.
OR

2. Your ticket numbers can be mailed to you via
the web if you also supply your e-mail address
along with your name and number.

Be thankful for a union job that allows you to enjoy time with your family, whether on holidays like this one, on the weekends or on the vacation time you get through the power of collectively bargained contracts.

Be thankful for a living wage, something millions of Americans still don’t get paid.

Be thankful for what remains of U.S. labor laws that protect our rights (and for the possibility that a new Democratic majority in Congress may actually enhance the rights of working folks, unlike the last Congress)

Be thankful that for living in a democratic republic where we can fix the remaining branch of our government in another two years.

Be thankful for family, friends, union brothers and sisters and every bit of health and happiness we have in life.

Be thankful for solidarity.

And if you already know your reasons to be happy this year, consider sharing the wealth with others, whether by spending time with the people in your life or donating to worthwhile causes (with money, time or both).

Happy Thanksgiving!