AFL-CIO Leader Richard Trumka Meets With Emmanuel At The WH, Pushing For Public Option!

[BlooInBloo]

Man - to be a fly on the wall at THAT meeting! :rofl:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/30/788115/-Trumka-Meets-with-Rahm-and-Pushes-Public-Option-%28Updated,-No-Triggers%29

"AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale said that Trumka "reiterated our commitment to creating good paying jobs, passing health care reform with a public option, the importance of passing major labor law reform and re-regulating financial markets." "

"Trumka is sticking to what he said on triggers all along - which is that we haven't seen any plans that would be as effective as the public option, and he told that to Rahm Emanuel today. "

Video and more links at the link above.

Sooooo good that these two powers are getting together and talking!



EDIT: Richard, Larry, whatever. :P

[flyarm]

1. Update..No deal!! AFL-CIO stands strong for Public Option!

see my thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6665775&mesg_id=6665775

Update..No deal!! AFL-CIO stands strong for Public Option!
AFL Says No Deal Between Trumka and Rahm on Public Option

By: Jane Hamsher Wednesday September 30, 2009 12:30 pm
http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/30/afl-says... /

This morning we reported that there was a meeting between Richard Trumka and Rahm Emanuel today. According to AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale, the meeting is over and Trumka is standing strong on the public option:

As the new President of the AFL-CIO Trumka had a broad meeting today with the White House on all of the issues that are important to working families. Trumka reiterated our commitment to creating good paying jobs, passing health care reform with a public option, the importance of passing major labor law reform and re-regulating financial markets.

I asked if Trumka considered "triggers" to be a public option. He responded:

Trumka is sticking to what he said on triggers all along - which is that we haven't seen any plans that would be as effective as the public option, and he told that to Rahm Emanuel today.

They discussed the Baucus/Pelosi plan to pay for reform by putting an unfair burden on the benefits of many AFL-CIO members. (No doubt it's just a happy coincidence that the one big liberal institution which has pledged to withhold support from any Democrats who won't vote for a public plan is getting specifically hammered.) Trumka reiterated that "working families shouldn't be taxed on their health care benefits, which often have been gotten by foregoing wage increases and other benefits."

I asked whether Rahm brought up the subject of triggers, something he has been pushing for since

[BlooInBloo]

3. Yep.

[DJ13]

4. ...... and tomorrow morning Trumka wakes up with a horse's head in his bed

[ProSense]

5. No deal? That was never the intention of the meeting.

Trumka went to push labor's position. And why is everyone assuming the meeting was with Rahm? He might have participated on behalf of the White House, but there is absolutly no indication, except the blog report, that this was a meeting between Rahm and Trumka. Rahm is the chief of staff he participates in stuff. The AFL-CIO spokesperson indicates the meeting was with the White House, and doesn't specify it was with Rahm.

[BlooInBloo]

6. "why is everyone assuming the meeting was with Rahm?" - I assumed it...

because that's what the diary headline was.

[flyarm]

7. this was POSTED THIS MORN ON FDL!

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/30/trumka-scheduled-to-meet-with-rahm-today-to-cut-deal-on-public-option/

I highly doubt Jane would have posted it if it was indeed not fact.

[ProSense]

8. Adding that this was a meeting to "make a deal"

was silly spin.

Trumka went to make labor's case on a number of issues. Trying to spin this as some sinister plot by Rahm to talk him out of a strong public option is silly.

[Cha]

2. Or a spidey!

Thanks to Richard Trumka and the UNIONS for helping to get this done.